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SIR HARRY VANE. 



SIR HARRY VANE 

A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS 

BV 
WM. FRANK MARTIN 




BOSTON 

THE ROXBURGH PUBLISHING COMPANY 
(incorporated) 



|l.!B«rtRY of CO K 3 ^7^ 
i Two G(jiD|eV>ecwv"c;..: 

I FEB 18 3y08 



GOHY ri. 



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65 



Copyrighted 1907 
By Wm. Frank Martin 

All Rights Reserved 



^ 



SIR HARRY VANE 

A STATEMENT OF ITS SCOPE AND PURPOSE 



"Sir Harry Vane," an historical drama, follows quite closely- 
some chapters of our early New England history. The period 
is that of Vane's occupancy of the Governorship of the Massa- 
chusetts Bay Colony, 1636-1637; although some facts histori- 
cally without these dates are, for purposes of the drama, included. 

The background of the drama is supplied by the political and 
theological controversies then waging; Sir Harry Vane represent- 
ing the " etherealized Puritanism " of his own and a later age, 
there being arrayed against him the conservative and more narrow 
Puritanism of Winthrop and Dudley. 

The views and fortunes of two other conspicuous characters 
of the time, Roger Williams and Mrs. Anne Hutchinson, are 
woven into the plot. 

The key-note of the drama may be found in these words, 
spoken by Wendell Phillips: 

"Roger Williams and Sir Harry Vane, — the two men deepest in thought and 
bravest in speech of all who spoke English in their day, and equal to any in prac- 
tical statesmanship. Sir Harry Vane, in my judgment was the noblest human 
being who ever walked the streets of yonder city, — I do not forget Franklin, or 
Sam Adams, Washington, or La Fayette, Garrison, or John Brown, — but Vane 
dwells an arrow's flight above them all, and his touch consecrated the continent to 
measureless toleration of opinion and entire equality of rights. We are told we 
can find in Plato ' all the intellectual life of Europe for two thousand years ; ' so 
you can find in Vane the pure gold of two hundred and fifty years of American 
civilization, with no particle of its dross. Etc." 

The drama is intended, in its present form, not for the stage, 
but rather for the reading public. 



DRAMATIS PERSON AE 

SIR HARRY VANE . . Governor of Massachusetts Bay 
JOHN WINTHROP . . . Deputy; afterwards Governor 

RICHARD BELLINGHAM 1 

WILLIAM CODDINGTON j 

REV. JOHN COTTON | Members 

THOMAS DUDLEY ^ of the 

JOHN HAYNES i General Court 

REV. HUGH PETERS i 

JOHN ENDICOTT J 

INCREASE NOWELL. Secretary of the General Court 
WILLIAM DUMMER . Treasurer of the General Court 

WILLIAM ASPINWALL A Citizen of Boston 

ISRAEL STOUGHTON . . . Another Citizen of Boston 
ROGER WILLIAMS . . Pastor at Salem ; later, Founder 

OF Providence 
JOHN WHEELWRIGHT, Pastor at Mt. Wollaston ; later 

Banished 
THOMAS HOOKER ... . . Pastor at Newtown 

JOHN WILSON Pastor at Boston 

THOMAS WELD Pastor at Roxbury 

JOHN UNDERHILL .... Captain of Colony Troops 
JOHN MASON, Commander of Forces Against the Pequots 

LORD LEY A Visitor from England 

ARNOLD, GREEN and VERRIN, Resident at Providence 
ANNE HUTCHINSON . . Leader of a Religious Faction 
Mrs. CODDINGTON . . . Wife to William Coddington 

Mrs. cotton Wife to Rev. John Cotton 

Mrs. WINTHROP Wife to John Winthrop 

Mrs. MARY DYER . . A Follower of Anne Hutchinson 
Mrs. JANE HAWKINS . . Eccentric Follower of Anne 

Hutchinson 
Two Daughters to Anne Hutchinson 

Citizens, Sailors, Sea Captains, Sergeants and Halberdiers, 
Marshal, Servants, Militia, Soldiers, Watches and Wards, 
Indians, Sentinels, Messengers, etc. 

The Time is from May, 1636 to August, 1637; although 
some events, historically without these dates, are for 
purposes of the Drama, included. 

The Scene is New England; Chiefly, Boston. 



ACT FIRST. 

Scene I. A Street in the town of Boston. 

(Enter Aspinwall and Bellingham.) 

AspinwaU: This is the very spirit of May morn! 
There seems a promise breathed us on the winds 
That what our Plymouth pilgrims failed to find 
In bleak December — what they suffered for — 
Is spring dispelling what they suffered from. 
Let it be all dispelled ! Is it not time 
Much that is worthless should be purged and 

pruned ? 
Ah more, — let some be withered from the root 
That boast but green leaves to a fruitful sky! 
— Now whither, friend? 

{Enter to them, Stoughton.) 

Stoughton : To hide me from the storm. 

'Aspinwall: The storm? — Hear this! — Ha, ha, I see 
no clouds, 
But these which hang above a troubled brow. 
9 



10 SIR HARRY VANE 

Stoughton: You view the. heavens, I the quivering 
earth ; 
Thro' hght as well as cloud Heaven may frown. 

Bellingham : What may this mean ? Hear we the 
tree-toad's croak? 
— Come, speak to us, that we may read thy mind, 
If on its page there be not some mistake, 
From which you wrongly judge to-day's event. 
Why should you fear, sir, that young Harry Vane, 
(Who left a titled heritage, that he 
Might plant a new name in our common soil). 
Is duly hailed our chief executive? 
I count that day in deed and prospect fair 
That can inaugurate such worthy rule. 

Stoughton : Bah ! Vain inauguration, Bellingham ! 
What gift has he, what matured qualities, 
That his but tender years should have applause. 
And such preferment? Is it, then, for breath 
Of freedom, or the puff and breeze of fame, 
He left his native land? Your flighty hopes 
Have not the plumage of his base desires. 

Bellingham: Tush, sir! These words are wild. 
Come, train your thoughts, 
That they hold not to such illusive aim. 



SIR HARRY VANE n 

Aspinwall: Disconsolate? I hope 'tis but in seem- 
ing. 
— Then, the cause? Is all for naught, and have 
We ta'en the perilous path? 

Stoughton: Perhaps not that; 

But that our men have erred I can but feel, — 
Erred in their choice of stranger Harry Vane; 
Who takes the helm where saner men have stood, 
Called by our Colony's elective will : 
That error, sirs, we see to-day confirmed. 

Aspinwall: Most willingly. 

Bellingham: For my part, I rejoice, 

And count it but the honor due his merit. 

He is a man to conscience safely loyal. 

Whose dawn bears golden promise of bright day; 

One whose ideals, like mail-clad vestments worn 

About a chieftain's body, shall protect 

Our land from wild alarms. His father, good 

And stalwart man, has stood at England's front 

Honored and true. The son, no less adept 

To rule, has not his sire's unwelcome views, — 

For which indeed young Vane felt driven thence; 

Willing to flee honors so false, and seek 

A humble place within our Commonwealth, 



12 SIR HARRY VANE 

Stoughton: A humble place? He sought humility? 
Ambitious crowns still seek a modest Caesar ! 

Bellingham : Ah, but a different honor this, we trust. 
High rank at England's front a shame had meant, 
And not true honor ; his honor now is ours. 
He is our benefactor ; we, I hold. 
Are highly honored in this new emprise, 
For think, my friends, we are a people weak 
In men's esteem, as haply strong in God's ; 
Despised at Courts, and what is more the peril. 
Without due credit in our native land. 
Great need, therefore, that we in bold esteem 
Should give such welcome to one come as Vane, 
And every scion of like worthy stock. 
This day will raise our honor high abroad. 
Will reassure us ; and we will hereby 
Turn to our shores a host of ready men 
Who wait but for our star to rise in hope. 

Stoughton: Too much the favor of false men we 
court, 
Too little seek the proof of faith with God. 

Bellingham : I yield to no man confidence in this ; 
It is my raiment, sir. 

Stous.hton : A word of Vane : 



SIR HARRY VANE 13 

You think for strength to turn to British peers, 

Or those in honor with our sovereign head. 

Well then, consider. You strike the wrong chord 

there ; 
For in that strain there is a note of fear 
That ill attunes it to our harmony. 
Against the King, and his prerogative, 
I would not raise a thought. No man than I 
To our dread sovereign is more loyal, none. 
But think, my friends, we are a Colony 
Now set in a new land. The men who braved 
The elements, and the fierce savage face. 
Were not from titled honors fleeing then; 
But, driven for religion's cause, they came 
To find their freedom and an equal right. 
This common hope is theirs, and theirs one king, 
Dread Conscience. 

Aspinwall: Well, to what intent? 

Stoiighton: To this: 

Shall we deliver this established State 
To those who come but for the honors given ? 
Shall we that planted, face flint-set to God, 
Seek now at weakling courts for men to rule? 
Shall we that turned down Winthrop, who but 
seemed 



14 SIR HARRY VANE 

To wish life-tenure in his office, now 

Take one with prospect of remoter change — 

Perhaps a titled name hereditary? 

Oh, let it not be so ! Yet such is Vane. 

You say he leaves their court — well, grant it, sirs; 

That now he seems sincere — that too, I grant ; 

Yet an aristocrat he is by birth. 

Trained to a usage that ourselves deny, 

With qualms of conscience arrogantly held> 

Which men console them are strong principles. 

They spring but from the ardor of his youth; 

From all that goes to make a people's reign 

His birth will bear him. 

Bellingham : Sentiment ! 

Stoughton: The proof: 

'Tis said, and the reports are credible. 

That when upon the ship that brought him hither 

The people learned his station, knew his rank, 

(To which his looks and bearing testified). 

They gave him flattery ; which he, intent 

To win their favor, did the while approve. 

And you know that eclat accorded him 

On his arrival. Men foolish seemed and wild, 

And did huzza him as he were a king. 

At once his power prevailed within our Court; 



SIR HARRY VANE i5 

Within the year you make him Governor. 
This is, I hold, a most unseemly haste. 

(Salutes. Volleys of great shot are heard from 
the shipping in the harbor.) 

Aspinzvall : List there !— What cheering ?— Their 
huzzas grow louder! 

Stoughton: We may repent the day we celebrate. 

BelUngham: Rejoice with us; we will repent with 

you! 
—Will not? Then, while you may lament your 

grief, 
This sun of our glad welcome will bring cheer 
And fortune to us, until (my prophecy) 
You will regret this day on which you mourned. 
—Hear this again!— We will go join them here. 

(Exeunt BelUngham and Aspinwall.) 

A procession drazvs near, by a neighboring 
street. They pass, with cheers for Vane and the 
Massachusetts Bay Colony. Voices of derision 
also heard. Enter, from following with them, a 
Townsman and Two Sailors. 

Stoughton: Sirrah, what make you here? 



i6 SIR HARRY VANE 

Townsman : Nothing, sir. I have no part in this, 
save to look upon what others are doing. Per- 
haps in that, I will admit, is fault enough — accuse 
me not more sharply. 

Stoughton: Ah, yours the pardon, friend. — You toil- 
ers of the sea, why come you hither? 

First Sailor: Why, still to see. And thereat toil 
enough, — for 'tis to lose more flesh than we bag. 

Second Sailor : We would learn, sir, the truth • or 
falsehood of certain reports. For it has been 
often said, and the fame thereof had reached our 
■ own dull ears, that this was — well, a sort of Holy 
Land ; and being ourselves too much i' the wilder- 
ness, we thought to come hither and view, if not 
from an Elbow's height, (no, not so high — it 
was a Nebo's height), well, at least from a Red 
Sea shore, something of these escaped saints. 

Townsman: And do you find them saints? 

Second Sailor: We find the saints escaped, yes. 
The Red Sea, or the red-skin, must have them. 
V/e seem to have found the Pharoah's host that 
sought to gobble up the holy folks; for unless I 
be betrayed by our own smell from the flesh-pots 
of Egypt, these are an unholy tribe. 



SIR HARRY VANE 17 

Stoughton : How now, why say you this ? 

Second Sailor: They are rebellious; they have no 
colors displayed, the King was railed at in our 
hearing, and we heard a magistrate say that no 
charter was to be read. 

First Sailor: And our Captain said, "I wonder did 
they get their authority from Britain, Spain, or 
the Block Islanders ?" 

Second Sailor : We will see the manner of their cor- 
onation ; and if this be the way of it, I swear we 
will tell Charles. But these people care no more 
for Charles than I care for Jack. I left Jack, 
poor dog, over the sea — and, for all these care, 
the two waifs may comfort one another. 

Stoughton: All are not thus, remember. 

(Exeunt Sailors.) 

— You are no freeman, none the less are free. 
Disfranchised for your sins, you are cut off 
From this day's act of folly. Better so. 
Without are dogs, but if within are wolves, 
The sheep not safer by the walls are kept. 

Townsman: How then intend you to abide the term? 



i8 SIR HARRY VANE 

Stoughton: Oh, siifferingly. There is no remedy 
For these sharp pains but in the balm of time. 
Yet hope withdraws the steel that cuts the flesh: 
To nerve that hope is duty. 

{Exeunt.) 



ACT FIRST. 

Scene II. House of the General Court. 

{Members of the General Court informally 
gathered. A door opens at rear to Governor's 
Room. At one side a Committee is assembled.) 

Haynes: You say that Williams is our peril — why? 

Dudley: Too much desiring men should be tolerant, 
He boasts a freeman's faith, yet would himself 
Set for the world its creed in his opinion. 
Is there not danger? — When Anne Hutchinson, 
The fruitful mother, as we thought, of all 
That God had meant should chasten us to fear 
The sins we beckon to, first came among us. 
She found the dove of peace; now caged and 

clipped. 
It finds no resting from her door ; but gledes, 



SIR HARRY VANE 19 

Yea and worse vultures, wing the infected air. 
There is decay where was the breath of cleansing. 

Haynes: The scepter that she wields is novelty; 
Though bright, 'twill rust, nor wear with faith's 

true steel. 
And as for Williams, Salem clings to him 
From friendship, not, I think, from strong belief 
In th' errors of his creed. And since our Court 
Has summoned him to answer for his words. 
May we not hope for peace thro' their restraint? 

Dudley : The tongue alone would give this welcome 
peal: 
Discordant bells ring out their loud alarum. 

Haynes: But, Dudley, I have faith — and in this man. 

Dudley : Indeed ! 

(Vane enters. All stand. Sergeants and Hal- 
berdiers escort hitn forward, then retire. Mem- 
bers of the Court resume informal, but attentive 
attitude. ) 

Vane: Fathers and brethren, greetings and God's 
peace ! 
Our General Court, at its late session held, — 
Or ere there came to me this place of trust, 



20 SIR HARRY VANE 

Unmerited I fear, but well esteemed ; — 

Did then appoint this new Commission; who 

Resume a work entrusted to the first, 

Which made not their report. We cannot hope 

For this first time more than a brief survey 

Of the conditions and public desire 

Which were initiative to this our work. 

Another time we look for full reports. 

Than this more definite. — The call then, says, 

"To make a draught of laws for our obedience. 

Unto the Scriptures formed agreeable. 

Which may henceforth to us and to our sons. 

Be fundamental to this Commonwealth." 

To this proposal hold you free to speak. 

Our charter, then, this Colony empowers 

So to provide. If we sufficient cause 

Now find in needs that lately have arisen. 

Well warranting a code of such import, 

It will be well that soon we meet to frame 

Such body of our liberties. This work 

By which we seek to govern men aright, 

With patient care, — their ills repressed by law ; 

Their hopes, by grace, advanced to stable good 

And mutual weal, — is worth our best attempts. 

Is like to God's : His care is ev'n the same. 

— First, shall we learn our worthy Cotton's will? 

Intending long our theme, he should bring light.. 



SIR HARRY VANE 21 

Cotton: A draught of laws, fetched from the sacred 
Book, 
'Tis true, I have set forth. My feeHng this — 
For God's own people let there be His laws. 
Therefore of this judicial ancient code, 
Such as be moral, laws in equity 
As universal as the realm of right. 
Let us indeed receive. Thereby we set 
Approval and a seal unto our faith 
That here at last we shall establish well 
A true theocraty. 

(Signs of a general approval are evident.) 

No rule than this. 
Whereby authority bears strong support 
From Him whose great and universal realm 
Has but one throne, be our desire. If then 
From this one seat His scepter's power is borne, 
It much behooves us that a common will 
Towards that high seat be shown. A like belief 
Where faith is unimportant, void of ill, 
Were not advisable, indeed not wise ; 
But when it touches weal of church or state, 
Is to be guarded. Care therefore has been, 
Without ofifense, yet to make strong the bonds 
Which bind us to a covenant of faith. 



22 SIR HARRY VANE 

So of the civil, a like care has been 

To give to all their just and natural rights 

Without infringement on those limits set 

In nature's law. I like a liberal count, 

Yet would not trust that blind democracy 

Which, of the people, bears the vulgar stamp; 

And in their choice, too often manifest, 

Guides them as instinct does the animal, 

Though less unerringly. 

Be this avoided. Then in truth shall we 

Strong temple columns plant, on which our State 

May rest henceforth its burdens without fear, 

(Signs of approval, and of disapproval, are to be 
observed.) 

Dudley: These, Sir, are words of serious, just 
appeal. 
To which we should attend. In general terms, 
They voice a duty which the hour commands. 
Sternly to all. Bind we these sayings now 
With lawful bonds to bend us to their strength, 
And we must yield to trvtth invincible, 

Bellinghani : Truth bound with error must forever 
need 
Your clasps of steel, else will they fall apart; 
Yea, even then. 



SIR HARRY VANE 23 

Dudley : What wrong does Richard scent 
That he, so soon, must show he finds the trail ? 
—My friends, religion's cause is now distraught 
Within our borders. All to no avail 
Her fervent pleas for unity. And why? 
Men turn her liberties into a cloak 
To hide presumptuous sins, while erring zeal 
Walks naked forth. 'Tis time we cry them shame; 
Shall Zion languish and her people mourn ? 

Coddington : At Chidon's gate fell Uzzah for his 
fear. 

Bellingham {to Coddington). The trail is hot; come 
join me in pursuit. 

Dudley : Learn the considerate hour. Years should 
now speak. 
One sage and honored presence have we here ; 
Lest we may lose the counsel of his years, 
I shall give place to our great commoner. 

Vane: One voice we all expect, — will Winthrop 
speak ? 

Winthrop: I am, my honored Sir, and good my 
friends, 
Most sensible to these your kind regards. 
And would that age with wisdom shared his seat. 



24 SIR HARRY VANE 

I shall not now with many words enforce 
The drift and worth of well known sentiments. 
Need for deliberate, calm, and weighty care, 
Should stay the issue that is spiritual, 
Till when we may with more expectant hope 
Season all zeal with grace. Be this our prayer. 
But now of rights inherent in our State, 
Which recent years have helped us to define. 
This the essential thing: — they henceforth bear 
Authority, whom nature has endowed. 
Thus do we hold from birth prerogative. 
And thus from rabble hands the power withhold. 
In every state the best part is the least. 
And of that "least" the wiser is still less. 
Why then not make assured this safest course 
Which we pursue, that in our steps our sons 
May likewise walk, and place th' elective crown 
Upon the brow which nature has adorned? 

{Enter a Halberdier.) 

Vane: Brave thoughts well voiced. 

Halberdier : Your pardon, Sir ; a word — 
Since a committee, sent you from the ships. 
Awaits without. — Shall we admittance give? 



SIR HARRY VANE 25 

Vane : It is a grievance they would now present 
Of fancied wrongs, deserving of the hour 
More than of yielding spirit. If perchance 
I may, with wielding them, our fears allay, 
It will redeem the time. — Brethren, farewell; 
I needs must ask these labors be deferred 
Until what time good progress may advise. 
Attend meanwhile the Scriptural page, and bring 
To civic code words most acceptable. 
That what is written, as the Preacher saith, 
May be upright, yea, words of very truth. 

(Exeunt all but Vane. Enter the sergeants and 
halberdiers, and five sea-captains; Captain Palmer 
as spokesnmn.) 

— Most worthy captains, you are welcome all ! 
What kindly wind has brought you to our port? 

Palmer : Less kindly that than is this welcome, Sir ; 
Yet more kind far than is the harbor's swell 
Which, in wild contrast to the quiet sea, 
Now seethes and foams as 'twere Leviathan 
Made hoary the darksome flood. 

Second Captain (aside) : This welcome, yes, 
Is much more courteous than the Castle's call, 
Heave to, salute! 



26 SIR HARRY VANE 

Vane: What life the mariner's is, 

If harbors prove more treacherous than the deep! 

Palmer: But of the wind which brings us hither 
now, 
This straw will show his way. Of Wentworth's 

ship 
And your lieutenant, with th' ensuing brawl, 
You have possessed the news. Sir, we are sent 
By those aggrieved, their fifteen ships agreed, 
To see if some good auspice may not serve 
To calm the harbor's rage, that with fair skies 
We may return us to our England's main. 
Announcing good reports. So well received 
As here we find us, gives assuring hope — 
Our Vane does not run counter to the wind ! 

Vane: A hope approved, if only that the wind 
Be of the upper current. — Now with this 
Your grievance, I am much concerned. Indeed, 
The cause was known. News came in weeds of one 
Bereft of peace. Our Colony desires 
To see her shores washed with but tranquil waves;. 
This I sincerely hope. Will you accept 
This then, as in some sense a faithful pledge 

(Presenting a note of invitation.) 



SIR HARRY VANE 27 

Of present interest, a promise too 

That when, as herein stated, you will dine 

With me on Wednesday next, we then shall choose 

The terms of such agreement as suit best 

Our mutual welfare and the common good. 

To all the captains of the several ships 

Bear this my wish. 

Palmer : Humbly, our thanks. Farewell. 
Vane : Farewell — and you — and you — to each — fare- 
well. 

(Exeunt Captains, escorted by sergeants and hal- 
berdiers.-. Curtain. ) 



ACT SECOND. 
Scene I. Boston. A Public Place. 

(Enter Dudley and Stoughton.) 

Dudley : What sternness is there in this opposition ? 

Stoughton : Whatever cloud or heat can give. The 
one 
Now gathers, and we stir men's passions too. 
Our quiet protest that thought first of tears, 
Would rather now they coursed opponents' cheeks. 
Their ways of folly are not paths of peace. 

Dudley : Shiloah's waters Israel once despised, 
Jehovah's floods then deluged Israel : — 
Now from our temple comes a stream defiled, 
Can all Euphrates make its fountains pure? 

Stoughton : And soon they come ; for troubles now 
arise 
Such that young Vane may wish his years were 

gray 
Ere they be settled. These too are the least. 
28 




JOHN (Governor) WINTHROF 



SIR HARRY VANE 29 

To-night, is't not, he gathers at his board 
The vessels' captains? 

Dudley: So it is. 

Stoughton: Well, there 

Is trouble, too, cannot be feasted out. 

They say their grace before their feasting now, 

But grace will wait on fasting by and by. 

— Our trouble comes, look here, in flesh and blood! 

(Enter Roger WiUiams.) 

Dudley: Brother of Salem, peace thy city speaks 
In name, — is there in truth that peace? 

Williams: "If thou 

Hadst known, ev'n thou, at least in this thy day. 
The things which appertain unto thy peace ! 
But now, — ah, they are hidden from thine eyes." 
Yet Dudley, not to you, nor unto you. 
Except as unto many, I speak these words. 

Stoughton: But of the many are we, and thought we 
knew 
What were contributory to our peace. 

Williams: The Hebrews thought they ne'er had seen 
so well 
As when, in darkness, they put out their Light ; ' 



30 SIR HARRY VANE 

The liberty for which their fathers yearned, 
When theirs, they sold for age-long bondage. 

Dudley (impatiently): Yes! 

Williams: And that for which we, from an old 
world's frowns 
And anger, came, we would ourselves despise. 
What gentler passions than our fathers' moods 
Are ours, if we as they find heart and will 
To persecute? 

Dudley: Are there no limits, then, 

Without the which we may not fellowship, — 
Smiling approval to their baseless creeds? 

Williams: Perchance the Father of lights a limit 
knows 
Where love its deadline dare not overstep, 
But none has shown, and unto mortals He 
His own dear love has shown illimitable; 
And counsels men His love-lit steps to learn, 
So being liberal as the gift of grace. 

Dudley: And as conservative! Think you, that 
grace 
Is made effective to th' unworthy? No, 
Nor to the ignorant that will not learn 



SIR HARRY VANE 31 

The Hear Him of the Gospels. For a creed 
There is man must believe. 

Williams: I said not that. 

I speak of love, not of our warring creeds. 
Only that Father of lights can judge of these 
Impartially. He knows the motives, we 
Cannot ; and He discerns truth absolute ; 
We truth, yes truth, but ever in false light, — 
Some ashen paleness on it of our fear. 
Some hue of saffron on it from our hate. 
Some splendent luster on it of our love. 
Shall we forsake those moods of charity. 
Wherein alone we may rise to be like Him, 
To boast peculiar treasure of His thoughts 
Inscrutable? Only His thoughts are truth. (Go- 
ing) 
Your leave, — a special errand bids me on. 

( Exit Williams. ) 

Stoughton : God grant it may be on ! 

Dudley: What towering wrath 

Such words might well be guilty of ! As though 
(It shames us to the world) we had already 
Not deeply suffered from his oily tongue ! 
What! tolerance? To be so tolerant 



32 SIR HARRY VANE 

As give the priceless garment of our faith 
For shreds and patches, emblems of a truce? 
God's mercy, no ! 

Stoughton: Too tolerant by far 

Our Court has been of Williams, and the sin 
Grown strong inflicts us now with punishment. 
For Vane is with him, and it may be hard 
To enforce the order for his going on. 

Dudley : Though Vane is with him, yet the Court 
is not; 
But holds its sentence now against him, — one 
That said, at first, a brief six weeks should be 
The term of his permission. But that time 
Passed by, and thinking that he meant to go, 
At early spring, to Narragansett Bay, 
The time was lengthened. Yet he still withstands, 
Using against us our own leniency. 

Stoughton : There must be no delay. 

Dudley : I am resolved 

That with endeavoring haste I shall declare 

The needs most urgent that should send him 

forth ;— 
Forth, not to Narragansett Bay, from whence 
There well might rise to trouble us again 



SIR HARRY VANE 33 

Unholy fires from his enkindling zeal ; 

But into England, or some place removed. 

To this dear land where some a freedom seek 

From tulchan bishops, rites, and lifeless form ; 

Where liberty would wreathe us with her smiles ; 

There also come those who with base amours 

Cleave not to liberty, no, no, but to 

Her unchaste sister, license. These they are 

Who give resolve to opportunity, 

And make their hopes to be our own dismay. 

(Going.) 
So evil entered to our gates, and so. 
If God be served, it shall be driven forth ! 

Stoughton : How good this resolution is ! Here's 
hope. 

{Exeunt. Enter, from the opposite side, Williams 
and Vane.) 

Vane : Hold, do not hasten your return. 

Williams: 'Tis best. 

Vane : 'Tis best you should remain. Your presence 
gives 
That help to me that nerves me well to labor. 



34 SIR HARRY VANE 

Williams: Vane, glad indeed I am that you are now 
Governor of this Colony. I feel 
That one so worthy will find much to do 
In bringing men to level with his heart. 
That I the least loved yeanling in the flock, 
Since when I first was numbered in the fold, 
May yet be chosen scapegoat for their sins, 
Were matter of small consequence, if only — 
Their sins might henceforth keep the wilderness! 
But to drive forth one thro' intolerance 
Is but to scourge an innocent back, while wrongs 
More thrive and strengthen as they ply the lash. 

Vane: That were too true. But that such scourge 
will fall 
Where it must fester pangs, and be a deed 
To take the crimson from the aspiring blood, 
I cannot well believe. We trust that Laud, 
Whose wilful customs urged our coming thence. 
Has no disciples of oppression here. 

Williams : Lord-bishops or lord-brethren is a choice 
That prospers not exchange. What better these, — 
Sworn brethren to a tyranny of creed, — 
Than Laud the overseer of like dominion? 
I share not your belief. 

Vane: And that some ill 



SIR HARRY VANE 35 

Threatens our welfare 'gainst my earnest hope, 
Must be admitted. Yet my hope is firm 
That such base prejudice may not increase, 
And that lord-brethren may ascribe to Him, 
Whose lordship over all we do implore, 
First honors to the same, and choose to take 
Our one-half title bathed in charity. 

Williams: Would that it might be so! 

Vane: It will, if we 

Shall be as thorough in our work to clothe 
His Church with righteousness, as they to robe 
With ceremonies. Israel's God still wants 
Men "valiant for the truth upon the earth." 
With these unsettled questions which perplex, 
I trust that with right spirit, courage too 
May join, and give us friendly dealing. You, 
By this renewal of your friendship, will 
Give zeal for this, for which good thanks. To- 
night 
I meet the captains of our harbor's fleet. 
Their grievances to hear, 

Williams: I wish you well 

In this, and all your helps of governance. 
Since in your countenance hope shines at best, 
Lift up its light upon us ! 

{Exeunt.) 



36 SIR HARRY VANE 

ACT SECOND. 

Scene II. The Same. A Dining Hall. 

(Seated at the table, Vane, V/inthrop, Cotton, and 
fifteen Sea-Captains. Servants, having brought 
zvine, retire. An atmosphere of good feeling is 
felt to pervade.) 

Vane: Our reverend Cotton ministers to all wants. 

Cotton: My friends, now that to all there has been 
served 
The glass that sparkles with good fellowship, 
There is a wine to serve, best of the feast, 
Which from the vintage of our cares expressed, 
And long fermenting with some warmth, is now 
Of delicate bouquet, urging our lips : 
Here's to our healths ! 

This kind it is makes glad the heart of man. 
If it be drunken from love's chalice ; but. 
Look not upon this wine when it is red. 
Or gives a fretful color to the cup : 
Or so the Scriptures say, and overabound. 
The gladness of the text alone is all 
We dwell upon as needful for this feast. 
Yet, onlv a faucet-taster am I to be. 



SIR HARRY VANE 

And yours to let tlie genial currents flow. 
We look to Governor Vane. 



37 



Vane: And, brethren all. 
Whatever joys attend to-night this board, 
The Father of bounties gives the chief to me; 
And I, in gladness at your presence, hold 
The cup of friendship to delighted lips. 
No wine more sweet ! When your committee called 
It was this spirit in their coming pleased, 
And helped to give an incident deplored 
A gentler aspect than at first it took. 
That spirit in the live, good fortune like, 
Appears to strengthen threefold in fifteen. 
All confidence I have then, that to-night 
The terms to which we mutually may agree 
Shall not prove hard to find. Suffer me then 
Briefly to state those terms which to our mind 
Seem most essential to our interest, 
And consonant with yours. Reasons therefor 
Are to some few at least familiar ; yet 
Our senior in good counsel, Winthrop, will. 
By our request, give summary of these; — 
To which, may it please friend Cotton and your 

wish. 
Ye may reply. — First then, be our request 
That with the coming year, or from such time 



38 SIR HARRY VANE 

As our agreement may be understood 

By whatsoever vessel greets our shores, — 

All ships may come to anchor ere they touch 

At Castle Island, sending boats before ; 

That our lieutenant may be thus assured 

That such are friends. And then we do desire, 

Or ere their goods be offered here for sale. 

An invoice be presented us, with right 

Of four and twenty hours refusal. Then, 

What each of you must equally desire, 

That after sunset, save for urgent need, 

None of your crew be privileged on shore. 

These, Captains, are the terms will make for peace 

Within our Colony, and give to you 

The grateful anthem of a people's praise. 

First Captain (aside) : The lady in our liquor drugs 
the wine ! 

Second Captain (aside) : But stirs so well that one 
must drink the lees. 
Lady and all for social health ! 

First Captain (aside) : It gags ! 
Cotton : Or ere such anthem swell, I gladly ask 
That Winthrop may stand father to our counsel. 



SIR HARRY VANE 39 

Winthrop : My greetings rather would I give than 
think 
A voice of counsel need be lifted, or 
That words of mine need tarry to make clear 
Our prayerful meanings unto gracious minds. 
There is a fear, not without cause indulged, 
That if the argosies we welcome may 
Unchallenged pass our Fort; then easily 
There might slip in some enemy, some loose 
Marauders, or some crafty buccaneers, 
And pirates of your trade as of our peace. 
And, that no hurtful goods may be allowed 
From any ship, an invoice we would ask 
To be delivered, aiding us to see 
That no illicit trade may thrive among us. 
Our last request no semblance of distrust 
Should bear, save that in any fifteen ships 
There are some wild and reckless youth, who need 
The curb of tense though kind restraint. You 

will, — 
Or else my wine sets judgment from his seat, — 
Agree to their restraint, yield some slight point, 
And help us so to make our Commonwealth 
True parcel of the Israel of God. 

{Captains manifest their approval.) 



40 SIR HARRY VANE 

Cotton: Captains, for these expressions of assent. 
Already given, Vane may well rejoice; 
And every colonist with him were glad. 
Could they but see how groundless were their fears. 
A further joy comes too to gladden us, 
Since Captain Palmer now may be announced 
To voice reply. 

Palmer: But, reverend sir, and you 

Our worthy Governor, and Winthrop whom 

Long since we learned to honor, — our reply 

Has been unduly voiced : — what can I say ? 

My words are stolen from me by their speech 

Who hold the tongue — a crime unspeakable. 

My freighted argosy of staple goods, 

I thought here to unload, is pirated 

By crafty buccaneers. And Winthrop helps 

To set them to it ! You need another Fort. 

Let your lieutenant call. Heave to, salute! 

And let the Captains with the crews be stayed 

On vessel after dark. An hour so late, 

And wine mixed by this cunning tapster's hand, 

Quite overpowers, sir reverence, my crew ! 

And to apology in their behalf 

I add permission to arrest, or deal 

As you, our chief Executive, think best. 



SIR HARRY VANE 41 

Cotton: If there be those who in their own defense 
Have aught to say, we grant the privilege. 

(All make as if to decline.) 

— Must wilful accusations thus be borne? 
— Then, Governor, in you let justice reign. 

Vane : And justice reigns ! And so these men are 

free. 
For breathe they not our freedom, as they drink 
Our healths? — The night is yours, as ours the joy. 
We make no sunset curfew to good will: 
That stays the whole night thro, shall brighter 

glow 
With each returning dawn. For we are one 
By more than right of English blood. Our good, 
Is it not yours ? And shall not, brethren, He 
Who binds Orion into social spheres. 
And makes the Pleiads share their sisterhood, 
Hold us in common fealty to His love? 
— If then such sentiment be yours, and if, 
As our good Palmer has with heat declared. 
You would outstrip him in your kind assent 
To these brief terms, (terms once misunderstood, 
As we perhaps misunderstood your wish. 
Now happily conceded), then I ask 
That such expression now be verified. 



42 SIR HARRY VANE 

(All Captains rise, then Winthrop and Cotton. 
Upon this, Captain Palmer leads in a health to 
Governor Vane, and the Massachusetts Bay 
Colony.) 

— Full heartily, our thanks ! This night indeed 
Shall be remembered with due gratitude. 

{Captains exeunt, cheerfully, attended by Hal- 
berdiers.) 

Cotton : Here is a breathing spell. And, Vane, what 
fears 
Have been removed ! I hardly dared to think 
So bright would be the ending of our feast. 

Vane : Oh, bright indeed ! And sir, in any cause 
'Tis wise to lift the wounded from the dust, 
And bear them to an inn. 

Cotton: Ev'n so, it was 

That rugged way no traveler but love 
Dare pause upon. 

Vane (twittingly) : And often Gerizim 
Trains better saints than does Jerusalem ! 
The priest and Levite hasten on to pray, 
"By thine almighty arm deliver. Lord," 
While one dares lay for's God a soothing hand 
Upon th' afflicted brow. 



SIR HARRY VANE 43 

Cotton : Hear, Winthrop, this ! 

You bear your staff — where pouch, and book o' the 
Law? 

Winthrop : Our good Samaritan may need a staff 
For his support, a fuller pouch to spend, 
And the Holy Word for's comfort, ere he soothe 
All fevered brows. — Here now those who can tell 

(Enter Mrs. Winthrop and Mrs. Cotton.) 

Of one such stricken cause. — How, Margaret, say: 
We're happy in the issue of to-night ; 
Tell Vane some circumstances of to-day, 
And see what prospect there. 

Vane: Oh, let us hear. 

Mrs. Winthrop : 'Tis to the midweek lecture, and 
some stir 
Caused by Anne Hutchinson's remarks, he now 
Refers. I fear it is cause for concern; 
In fact, have since her meetings first began. 
It is a work, I hold the Scriptures teach. 
Not for our sex ; and felt there would be ill 
Resulting soon. Think you 'tis woman's place? 

Vane : The Gospel's law is one of liberty. 

Mrs. Winthrop : But not for improprieties. To me 



44 SIR HARRY VANE 

It all seems wrong. And I until to-day, 

When weakness won, did not frequent her place. 

Now let me tell you what I heard, and see 

What many goodwives choose to feed upon. 

First, boasting that the life of faith with forms 

Cannot abide, that he alone is Christ's 

In whom the Holy Spirit bodily dwells ; 

She then derided ministers, and said 

They were but popish factors, diseased growths, 

And ushers-in of persecution. 

How shamefully at fault her words would seem! 

We hold, she says to a covenant of works. 

Such words, good Cotton, weaken your appeals. 

Cotton: It might so turn. And yet Anne Hutchin- 
son 
Is one of sober carriage, disciplined 
In virtuous ways and saintly character. 
I knew her, friends, in old St. Botolph's; and 
More admirable, unselfish helper, none 
Has cheered my ministry. I should be sad 
To think her words mean this. 

Mrs. Cotton: What can they else? 

We know your words in praise of her are true, 
And yet authentic teachings of her own 
Show her misled. 



SIR HARRY VANE 45 

Mrs. Winthrop : I say it to our shame, — 
Authority usurped leads woman wrong. 

Vane: Surely, good friends, this woman we can 
trust. 
Approved as is her praise of character. 
Her life stands true. Her teachings, cannot they 
Or stand or fall as in our conflicts these 
Take sides with truth or error? God's that issue. 
Let us but answer for ourselves, and look 
That truth be our command. 

Winthrop : I fear such course, 

Anticipating with much sadness how 

Her words may work us injury. — But then, 

Of this another time. — To-night's farewell. 

(Exeunt.) 



ACT SECOND. 
Scene HI. The Same. A Street. 

(In front, a rustic view. To left, a wooded pas- 
ture. To right, a roadway. Nearby, a footpath, 
leading to the river Charles.) 
In the foreground, at the left, on a stump, is 
seated John Wheelwright; on the grass nearby. 



46 SIR HARRY VANE 

John Undcrhill, with a pipe. 

Occasionally one or more are seen passing. 

Underhill: A queer thing anyhow is our holy re- 
ligion. 

Wheelwright: I know not that I should deem it a 
queer thing; only that some queer people are pos- 
sessed of it. 

Underhill : And therein, mark me, is it queer ; in that 
such queer people get it, and in such queer ways, 
and that in such diverse forms as suiting their 
queerness they hold it, 

Wheehvright: Perhaps so, then. 

Underhill: Indeed, just so. Now that anyone would 
think of making so solemn a thing out of so joy- 
ous a commodity as our blessed truth, as does 
our goodman Dudley, or our reverend Wilson, — 
though indeed our Wilson, aside from his preach- 
ing, has a lively enough vein, — surpasses what 
were sober to think. Truly now, they make too 
much out of so little. For there be some who 
having but feeble piety, steady it with a stiff 
dignity and a long solemnity. They walk safely 
only because they walk wretchedly. Why not 
throw away their sticks? Oh no, they are stick- 



SIR HARRY VANE 47 

lers for them. But I — I had as lief be a crutched 
Friar. Give me your religion of pleasurable 
ease. 

Wheelwright: Well, not too much ease. For some 
fail there; and the prophet, remember, chided 
such as were at ease in Zion. 

Underhill : Ah but, mark me, I refer to ease of mind. 
True, we may be too much lacking in diligence; 
and diligence is a good road for piety to take. 
But then, a long one, mark me, a long road ; and 
it will not do that we walk too stiffly. Now my 
persuasion is, that their solemnity is nothing else 
than the veritable shadow of works, — that shadow 
which the covenant of works, as Anne Hutchin- 
son so well calls it, casts upon those who are yet 
walking therein. One must be under grace, and 
if under grace then there is liberty, and if liberty 
then we need not fear our falling, even though 
in our weakness we should walk into sin. 

Wheelwright: Mistress Hutchinson does not grant 
that the covenant of grace may lead us into sin. 
It is her teaching that we shall be enabled to 
live free from the bondage of sin. 

Underhill : I know ; but, mark me, just there I can- 
not see it so. For her teaching I entertain a high 



48 SIR HARRY VANE 

regard, but I fear lest she may lead us too far in 
this. For how shall I be free, if I am to be under 
bondage to the fear that any step may be a mis- 
step? The Apostle said that while all things 
were not expedient for him, yet, mark me, all 
things were lawful. 

Wheelwright: But look, where Roger Williams 
comes. 

(Enter, from the right, Roger Williams.) 

— Good greeting here ! I knew not that you still 
tarried with us. 

Under hill (rising) : I too salute you. 

Williams: My brethren, you are well met. I do still 
tarry a little, though I must to-day to Salem. 
By an appointment, I am to meet our brother, 
Hooker, here at the crossing. And I think it 
draws near the hour, — almost ten, would you say ? 

Wheelwright: I think, most likely. 

Underhill: Not quite, mayhap. At least Hooker 
comes not yet. — Such as they are — be seated. 

Williams: I do not intrude? What conference have 
you here? — Thank you, I will stand. 



SIR HARRY VANE 49 

Wheelwright : No, no intrusion ; we but happened to 
meet a while ago, here at the pasture, and fell to 
some argument; and, as we were not specially 
urged, turned aside for a while. — Proceed Cap- 
tain Uuderhill; I am sure our brother Williams 
will be interested. 

Williams: Indeed, say on. 

Underhill: I was just saying as how in our religion 
it is the covenant of grace that avails, and that 
if we be under that covenant, it must be for us 
a mantle for our infirmities and misdoings. 
Herein it is that we cannot by any merits avail, 
but must await the season of that gracious vis- 
itation. As for instance, mark me, what vain 
strivings I had. I had lain under a spirit of 
bondage and a legal way five years, and could 
get no assurance ; but at length one day as I was 
taking a pipe of tobacco, the Spirit sent home an 
absolute promise of free grace, with such assur- 
ance and joy as that I have never since doubted 
of my good estate, neither should I doubt though 
I should fall into sin. 

Williams: Ah,vain man, do you think the influence 
of the Divine Spirit so combines with the influ- 
ence of that filthy weed? 



50 SIR HARRY VANE 

Underhill: Ah, mark me, I do not so consider. But 
such indeed was my way of visitation ; and, pray, 
why should it be thought a thing incredible ? For 
as the Lord was pleased to convert Paul as he 
was in persecuting, and even in blasphemy; so 
He might manifest Himself to me as I was but 
taking the moderate use of the creature called 
tobacco. 

Williams: It was scarcely in praise of Him to say it 
so. Beware your comfort be not the false com- 
fort which the weed imparts. And indeed be 
sure of this, — grace is given, not as a mantle to 
cover our sins, but as a cleansing from which we 
may be free of sin. Having that covenant, ought 
we not to stand firm to the high condition of that 
covenant's seal? 

Underhill: Well but, mark me, your "ought" is a 
hard word. And if every debitum were a posse, 
there is no insurrection but could be quelled. 

Williams: But ought in righteousness is can. And 
look, 
That in thy self-excusings haply thou 
Accuse not God. His will leads up to light, 
His liberty shades not to license, nor 
Car He who in His creatures will demand 



SIR HARRY VANE 51 

A virtue, still be satisfied with mulct. 
To Him we plead our frailties but in vain, 
Slighting our task ; seeking His help, they stand 
Our strongest plea. — I would I yet might stay ; 
But there, I think, a skiff now disembarks 
Must bring him. So, your leave. (Exit Williams.) 

Wheelwright: Williams, farewell. 
— And we, do not you think, should now be going? 

Undcrhill: Quite likely, goodman Wheelwright. — 
But what would not Williams say, if I were to 
use such title before him as "goodman"? He 
would as soon see a woman unveiled in his 
church. I think indeed he would retract his fer- 
vent words, and admit with me that there are 
none good. I needed not to have entered into 
argument before him, for we know how useless 
that is. He withstands us all in controversy, 
however bad the opinion. Still, if my words had 
no weight with him, neither, mark me, can his 
with me. So there, we draw. — But, let us go. 

Wheehvright: Yes. — Still, a marvellous man is 
Williams, lovely in his carriage, godly and zeal- 
ous, having precious gifts. What a loss that our 
Colony finds him a hindrance, not a help. Its 



52 SIR HARRY VANE 

purpose, I fear, affrights him. I doubt not he now 
confers with Hooker as to that. 

Underhill: I shall yet get him, — if not in argument, 
perhaps in arms. — If any can avail him aught. 
Hooker can. 

(Exeunt Wheelwright and Underhill, to right. 
Soon, by footpath, enter Roger Williams and 
Thomas Hooker, in conversation. They come 
forward, until where the place vacated by Wheel- 
wright and Underhill may be seen, then pause.) 

Williams: Why, only now Wheelwright and Under- 
hill 
Talked with me here. They now, I see, have gone. 
Turn we aside ; no better place than this 
Need we desire for our brief conference. 

Hooker: Suits well enough. But few here come 

and go 
This hour of day, and we are quite removed. 
— Now Williams, tell me of your thought. Your 

note 
Of yesterday gave hint ; and well you know 
I am a strong well-wisher in your cause. 

Williams: Thanks, Hooker, so I think. This then 
the brief : 



SIR HARRY VANE 53 

It is not that I wish to stay the hand 

That here is hfted up against my peace, 

I seek for counsel ; nor, that I that hand 

Would make the more desiring by a course 

Of wilful seeming, that I do refuse 

To meet a summons of our General Court. 

But rather this : — I hold it as my faith 

That in such matters as concern the soul, 

A liberty of soul obtains. In this 

No ordinance of man must interfere. 

Yet, holding such authority of soul. 

The more am I in duty bound to seek 

My exercise thereof be without blame. 

I cannot yield an item to constraint. 

Nor sanction forms that to my mind are void ; 

Yet if such wards of conscience leave a way 

Where one may venture to expediency, 

Such overture I seek, or not refuse. 

You, Hooker, trained to discipline of mind ; 

Silenced for non-conformity, for which 

From England you to Holland fled, whence hither; 

Oft whipped with lash of billows-tossing waves 

Of persecution, — you best know the mood 

Of self-defense, else of aggressive stand. 

"Bear one another's burden" — such is mine. 

Hooker: That would I, Williams, heartily, if only 



54 SIR HARRY VANE 

Some way but might appear. I grant as you 

That conscience must be feared; have paid some 

price 
For so good faith, and treasure it as dear. 
But, Williams, this our Colony presents 
A challenge to our thought that not before, 
To me at least, seemed with like fairness urged. 
At other times when conscience issue joined 
With custom, I have felt that custom rose 
From error, nurtured upon pride, or helped 
To tyranny by crude indifference. 
But here, I think, not so. The issue stands. 
Conscience to conscience : yours or mine prevail. 
I can but feel that some whom you oppose 
Are equally sincere. Their faith — you yours — 
They seek to weave to fabric for our Court, 
Whose ermine would be pure. And thence my fear 
No easy path may offer to our goal. 

Williams: But, I ask not for oneness of belief; 
I merely ask that as they sanction theirs, 
They but permit me that I publish mine. 

Hooker: Theirs is the law, and yours against that 
law. 

Williams: No law so sacred, but that one it calls 
To give obedience, may dare question why. 



SIR HARRY VANE 55 

Hooker: So. Yet — and this, I think, we need re- 
gard,— 
They who build now their fancies into form. 
Themselves gave up a land that narrowed them. 
And sought new borders ; now, if they confine. 
They think it fair that others should search out 
A like enlargement. 

Williams : Hold ! they do not grant 
Their borders are so new ; but dare contend 
They hold them from the Crown whose realm they 

fled: 
How this enlargement — save in length of chains? 

Hooker : That too a tenet lends uneasiness 
To their opposed belief. 

JVilliams : It harms them, if 
Their cringing loyalty invite his spleen 
Whose just authority extends not hither. 
No, Hooker, it were useless, for we cannot 
Make terms acceptable, — broad fields divide. 
They claim, forsooth, here spreads the king's do- 
main ; 
That which this foot treads on is not the king's. 
Nor that these eyes behold. Thou, King of kings, 
Forbid ! I make no treason to Thy tribes 
Of Gentile blood, that here inhabit lands 



56 SIR HARRY VANE 

Thou gavest them. We come to teach and save, 
Not steal and slay; to gain, not dispossess. 
Their charter ! — royal thief, what right had he 
Conveying lands not his? The paper burns 
With lying seals of title ; they who give, 
Or hold, by this false charter, share the crime. 
This why I will not be a freeman, since 
To take the right from those who hold the right 
Falsely obtained, were void. I rather ask 
The Indians: derive it they from God. 
Likewise unwarranted their claim of church. 
That magistrates may punish breach of law 
Where His first table of the decalogue 
Condemns : all unbelief, forswearing, guilt 
Of Sabbath, — crimes He only must avenge. 
Though they that punish these, themselves inflict 
A breach of one, when they require an oath 
From unregenerate men. These, and that wot st 
Of their misdeeds, in choosing to remain 
Unseparated from the English Church, 
Compel me to a course unreconciled. 

Hooker: I fear such counsel gives you but resolve 
For more confirmed resistance. Argument 
That heaps our own, and weighs not others' rights, 
Must ever turn unequal. Weigh us truth, — 
You do that well ; but force not whom you serve 



SIR HARRY VANE S7 

To take the dross full value with the gold, 
They so regarding. — Williams, I could wish 
You might find conscience not a thruster-on 
From these our borders ; here a field invites 
Investment. Yet your youth is ardent, frets 
Under constraint ; and, if you cannot choose 
Contentment, nor tone down your strictures; then, 
Much to my sorrow, I should counsel, go. 

Williams : So Winthrop thought, I cannot well deny, 
Your mind, and his, in this may be most sane. 
Did Heaven set my post of duty here, 
That though were need for pause. I would make 

sure. 
I cannot aught retract that conscience moved : 
My words shall stand confirmed. Yet, Hooker, 

thanks 
For kindly thoughts. I bear you much good will. 

Hooker: I you. And gladly shall I intercede 
With those whose hands enclose the issue, that 
They not in haste or anger move; and trust 
A way shall open to some mutual good. 

Williams: Thanks, heartily. I trust the mightier 
Hand. 
— ril with you to the landing. 



58 SIR HARRY VANE 

Hooker : Thanks ; a skifif 

Now waits me. — One regrets to leave that shade. 

(Exeunt.) 



ACT SECOND. 

Scene IV. The Same. House of Anne 
Hutchinson. 

(In front, a laivn, with trees, shuhhery, Howers. 
Various seats are provided. At close of a 
Women's Meeting; some remain.) 
Enter, from street at front, Aspinwall, Codding- 
ton, Bellingham. 

Coddington: Is here another house of deputies? 

Bellingham : More than assistants, they are magis- 
trates : 
For look, how magisterial they seem ! 

'Aspinwall: If women hold court, we must prove 
guilty and be. 
With Williams, banished from our city of peace. 

Bellingham : You have a faint and evil-accepting 
heart. 

Aspinwall: With reason too. The Scriptures — 



SIR HARRY VANE 59 

Coddington: (To Aspinwall, seeing Anne Hutchin- 
son enter) 
There is one, 

Their chief executive, think you, as vain 
As any we may boast of ! 

Bellingham : Let us hnger 
A Httle. 

Coddington: We may thus admittance gain 
To her apostolate. 

Aspunvall : Save asking too, 

If aught would learn, our knowing wives at home. 

Bellingham: Your Scripture's uninspired. 

Aspinwall: But down to date. 

(Anne Hutchinson comes forzvard.) 

Anne Hutchinson: Good welcome, friends. 

Bellingham: No intrusion, I hope, that we 
Linger a little here? 

Anne Hutchinson: Oh, none at all! 

Enjoy the freedom of the seats and lawn, — 
I shall be much delighted. 

Coddington: Small the wonder, 

Though one regarded not the eloquence 



6o SIR HARRY VANE 

To which our good wives Hsten, they should come 
And sit together where such comfort calls. 

Bellingham: Poor men, we swelter in our heated 
Court. 

Aspinwall: And most perspire from an unweathered 
warmth. 

Anne Hutchinson: Such difference then between the 
law and grace ! 

{Enter, from street, Dudley and Stoughton.) 

Coddington: Come in! Here's room. Two sessions 
here convene 
From late adjournment. 

Dudley: Ah, a quorum, is there? 

Bellingham : Oh, always, when we may escape the 
law. 
Which seldom draws a willing company, 
For such by far more temperate lawns of grace. 

{To Anne Hutchinson) : See how you words come 
current. I give place. 

Anne Hutchinson: Proceed. You do so well, a 
change of voice 



SIR HARRY VANE 6r 

Breaks in unwelcome. — Friends, take here what 



ease 



You will. I some few moments with some friends 
Am kept within. Men's meeting make it, will you ? 

(Exit Anne Hutchinson.) 

Stoxighton: Paul to a "church within thy house" 
sent greeting : 
How's this for one gone out of doors? 

Bellingham : Perchance 

Under such trees, though near a river's brink, 
Lydia first heard that Paul. 

Dudley : But asked him home. 

This church is out of doors indeed, and in 
Our streets and homes, defiling half the tongues 
That swash with her foul flow of speech. 

Bellingham: By what street did you come? There 
floated out 
To me the hymning of some thankful praise 
Mellifluently. Whose ears that hear tell tales. 

Dudley. No praise, beheve me, garlanded our brows 
Within these courts to-day. And only now 
The songs of those we met lisped other words 
Than jrratulations. Wiser matrons say 



62 SIR HARRY VANE 

That her too artful speech against the church, 
Against our ministers, and lately too 
In derogation of our General Court, 
Hinders not us alone who build the State, 
But those whose care it is to rule the home. 

Coddington : What new inveigling threatens now our 
Court? 

Dudley: In saying that the Spirit alone should 
guide : 
That whoso seeks to rule mistrusts His power. 

Bellingham : There yet is left realm wide enough for 
us. 

Dudley : Save Cotton, whom long friendship may re- 
lease ; 
And Wheelwright, who bears curse of kith and kin; 
None of our clergy are exempt. And Vane, 
Whose natural feelings join him to her cause, 
Alone of us escapes aspersions. 

Aspimvall : Then, 

Unlike the boughs that arched Gangites' marge 
And served for shelter, these resemble more 
The fragrant hyssop springing from the wail, 
Sprinkling the unclean. Until the evening, wait: 
We then shall all be cleansed. 



SIR HARRY VANE 63 

Stoughton: But Asp-in-wall, 
Let not you sting the boughs. 

Bellingham: Nor fear thou, lest 

Some misdirected word may harm our Court ; 
Not others' words, but our own deeds, can harm. 
And for our clergy, — well, let this one say. 

(Enter John Wilson, reading from a book.) 

Wilson: No, let me read. For I am more hotly 
driven with the racy periods of the book in hand, 
than familiar with the halting topic of your con- 
versation. Join with me, and take hold on these 
bits, will you? How is this for the Simple Cob- 
bler of Agawam? Attend. "My heart hath 
naturally detested four things : the standing of 
the Apocrypha in the Bible ; foreigners dwelling 
in my native country, to crowd our native sub- 
jects into the corners of the earth; alchemized 
coins ; tolerations of divers religions, or of one 
religion in segregant shapes." 

Aspinwall: Oh, but see how he runs them thro' with 
his shoemaker's awl! But I fear the thread of 
his discourse may not hold. 

Wilson: It holds remarkably well. "Beseech you, 
attend : 



64 SIR HARRY VANE 

"Poly-piety is the greatest impiety in the world." 

Aspinwall : Whew ! 

Stoughton : Whist ! 

Wilson : "To authorize an untruth by a toleration of 
State is to build a sconce against the walls of 
Heaven, to batter God out of His chair. It is 
said that men ought to have liberty of their con- 
science, and that it is a persecution to debar them 
of it. Let all the wits under Heaven lay their 
heads together and find an assertion worse than 
this (one excepted), I will petition to be chosen 
the universal idiot of the world." 

Aspinwall: I think the cobbler's petition will be 
quite unnecessary. 

Dudley (interestedly) : Who is this writer? 

Wilson: Inscribes himself as the Simple Cobbler of 
Agawam. 

Bellinghani : Good evidence of his standing in Aga- 
wam ; and the book seems the petition for the uni- 
versality of his standing. 

Dudley : Well, to my mind, there is more soundness 
here (taking the book in hand,) 
Than you might think would grace a Crispin's lines. 



SIR HARRY VANE 65 

The force and racy frankness of his style 
Give them a happy setting, and our theme 
A novel strength. 

Aspimvall: Sole-leather toughness, call't. 

Stoughton: Tough and unrelished, some yet may 
swallow it. 

Dudley : In good sincerity I, friends, insist, 
Though there be that suggesting the bizarre 
In clothing of his thought, there yet is heat 
Of meditation, luminous with truth. 

Aspinwall : Then haply may we all make light of it ! 

Stoughton : The only light some get of any truth. 

Dudley: Oh, let me cry you, Peace! This is not 
time 
For jesting out a way to prophet's goal. 
Play not with truth aswing 'twixt fair and foul, 
Like children at bob-cherry. 

Coddington: That's well taught: 

Who broach great themes should be considerate. 

Bellingham: Agreed. This open forum cut loose 
restraint. 

Wilson: Did not your other forum do the same? 



66 SIR HARRY VANE 

Stoughton : How ? 

Wilson: Well, the bow that's drawn at venture slays. 
If Heaven direct the shaft. 

Aspimvall : And bear the blame. 

Dudley: We cheerfully take that. 

Bellingham : Suggestive words : 

Some Jews that darkened Calvary voiced them too, 

Wilson: Your Court has summoned Williams. Once 
again 
Your random arrow fails. When Ahab fell, 
The archery of Providence prevailed. 
Where human skill was helpless ; here the bow 
Bends feebly, falsely charitable. From such 
His arrows never fly. 

Dudley: We are condemned. 

Not by my wish or suffrage is he called. 
Not summons but departure is his debt; 
Which long unpaid, sternly we should exact. 

Coddington: But, Wilson, is our charity so false 
That would restrain this man ; whom if we send 
Again to England, will our Colony there 
So place in disrepute ; and advertise 
That here, where we have sought to make the State 



SIR HARRY VANE 67 

A refuge and asylum for what souls 
Would freely worship God, we build in vain? 
We have a name to live we dare not smirch : 
Our fortunes here enjoin our favor there. 

Stoughton: No, England's favor is not our chiefest 
care. 

Wilson: The safest title to that fame abroad 
Is peace at home ; which will not come, nor can. 
With discord fanned within (to Dudley). The 

book you hold 
Supplies no code indeed, and yet incites 
To wary watch, yea and to action too, 
Lest he of Salem or this Nonesuch Anne 
Yet be the shameless rock of our offense. 

Bellingham : That other Book you hold, at least 
proclaims 
A milder spirit ; says, "Put up thy sword : 
My kingdom's not of flesh, else mine would fight," 

Wilson: Oh ho! Compare, "Contend ye for the 
faith 
That was delivered ;" mind the Apostle too 
Withholding not the dread anathema, — 
"An-aiihema"? Why sir, 'tis made for her! 

(Making as if to go.) 



68 SIR HARRY VANE 

Dudley : Let not our toleration mar His church, 
And rend His seamless coat. (To Wilson) Your 
book, with thanks, (rising) 

Bellingham: To rend a seamless coat? Ah, were 
that all ! 
The coat is not the spirit of the man. 
Look well, thou pierce not thro' the veil of flesh, 
Nor bind thy thorns upon the suffering brow. 

Dudley (unheeding) : "Let men of God in courts and 
churches watch 
O'er such as do a toleration hatch, 
Lest that ill egg bring forth a cockatrice 
To poison all with heresies and vice." 

Wilson : We must not stay, nor argue with her here. 

(Exeunt Dudley, Wilson, Stoughton.) 

'Aspinwall: Not on her grounds, but on their 
grounds, is why. 

Coddington : They fear this woman. Well they may, 
since she 
Their persecuting spirit so arraigns. 
Their ban on Williams, which occasion stays 
From execution, must ere long light here. 
Her hand is heavier on them than is his. 
Since she in Boston lives, and strongly wields 



SIR HARRY VANE 69 

From week to week her power. Her words prevail. 
She teaches here that which our clergy taught 
In England, (other rights breed other wrongs!) ; 
And they who there fought well to break the power 
Of clergy, which with temporal rule combines 
To ill affect, as witness then ; when with 
That power invested would defend, as now, 
Its right. Her shrewdness haply may forestall 
Whatever wish they bear ; and will, if Vane 
Let not their favor strengthen at his cost. 
She comes. 

(Re-enter Anne Hutchinson.) 

Bellingham: {To her) Men's meeting adjourned, ere 
your return. 

Aspinwall: Or broke in some confusion. 

Anne Hutchinson: What? Are men, 

Who frame the laws and teach the Gospel, those 
The law and Gospel least can keep in hold? 
And why confusion, pray? "For God is not 
The author of confusion, but of peace, 
As in all churches of the saints," says Paul. 

Aspinzmll: Their argument begins where yours had 

pause. 
Anne Hutchinson: And where? 



70 SIR HARRY VANE 

Aspinwall {amusedly) : Does not that Scripture then 
enjoin 
Silence upon the women in those churches ? 
As if to say such were the pledge of peace ! 

Anne Hutchinson: Oh, that! I have not spoken in 
such churches, 
Nor will. Surely they grant I may speak here, 
Within my gates, to those who freely come? 
It is not I can filch their favor, sirs; 
That Word they feebly preach cries strongly where 
I merely lisp upbraidings. 

Bellingham : Clearly so. 

Coddington: Two things our Colony seems strug- 
gling to, 
These men most helping. First, a novel state 
Restricted to an aristocracy 
Of non-dissenting creed ; and then a church 
Of forced support, submissive to the rule 
Of clergy — good men, worthy men, but still 
Men who resisted forms of like constraint 
When theirs the faith those forms coerced. Who 

knows, 
Their forms may not develop to a Laud ? 

Anne Hutchinson: What else than forms, where 
formal piety 



SIR HARRY VANE 71 

Alone abounds? They who deny the Spirit; 

And rest their faith on evidence of morals, 

Delight in formal worship, men's assurance ; 

Cannot be spiritual. A covenant 

Of works is theirs — worse than no covenant. 

The covenant of grace they have not known, 

Nor can, because the Holy One confirms 

Those only whose foundation is secure, — 

His own, who have this seal, "the Lord knoweth 

Them that are His." 

BelUngham : Be not an Elijah to us, 
Diminishing God's number. 

Anne Hutchinson: He that first 

By his upbraidings seemed so to diminish, 

The more increased them. Let me follow there. 

Still, not reprovings is my care or joy; 

I grow no censure for the thistles borne ; 

But only care lest sluggards be at ease. 

"The lips of righteous men feed many ;" but, "where 

No vision is the people perish." Think 

How Jeremiah spake. God said, "Stand, speak, 

Diminish not a word, (my pastors err) ; 

If so they hearken, well ; if not, my curse." 

He gave the word ; those erring pastors said, 

**This man is worthy death : he prophesied 



72 SIR HARRY VANE 

Against our city." Jeremiah rose 
In manly courage, said, "The Lord hath spoken, 
Therefore amend your ways and doings now. 
Obey the voice of God, He will repent; 
But as for me, behold me in your hands : 
Do ye as seemeth good to innocent blood." 
You know their evil hands were that day stayed. 
— Brethren, I count me much unworthy aught 
Of prophet's part ; but speak whereof I know. 
And can but speak the things oft seen and heard : 
If men forbid. One only is my Judge. 

Coddington: I think you must prevail. The clergy, 
true, 
Bear illy the tense strictures you enforce ; 
They must be reckoned with. The people still 
Increasingly adhere; these count for most. 

Bellingham : I trust there may be no opposing 
strength 
To strength alone ; but more a pressing on 
To common goal, though winds diverse contend. 
For while there may be some whose lighter craft 
Must edge and bogue before contrary winds ; 
We band of pilgrims, undismayed, must see 
Our close-hauled vessel, cutting wind and wave, 
Make yet good board. We hold a bill of health 



SIR HARRY VANE 73 

Assures us, and should not grow fearful from 

The first sea-sickness on our ship of state. 

Not ever on calm seas we hope to ride ; 

For who can take the wind from wave, save One 

Whose voice is peace? And ofttimes faithless 

hearts. 
Instead of winds, it is, He would rebuke. 

Anne Hutchinson : You voice a hope I wish my heart 
might feel. 
But when I think of Williams and your Court, 
Observe how Vane is hindered every step, 
And see the church a barrier to the truth 
That here should run and have free course ; I fear 
Lest in these lashings of the waves we find. 
Not chastened wisdom only, but some wrack. 

Aspinwall: Contrary winds less than contrary crew 
Alarmed Columbus. Vane may find the like. 

Coddington: I rest less easy there than here. But 
we, 
Good hostess, may not tarry. — Shall we go? 

Bellingham and Aspinwall: We must indeed. 

Anne Hutchinson: Your counsel has been good; 
Let there be more when leisure serves. 



74 SIR HARRY VANE 

Bellingham : Our thanks. 

{Exeunt Bellingham, Coddingfon, Aspinwall.) 

Anne Hutchinson goes within. Her two little 
daughters have entered, and are to he seen, near 
an arbor. They come forward.) 

First Daughter: I think I am rather tired of their 
meetings. I wish our lawn could be free. 

Second Daughter: Yes, Faith, I wish we might keep 
it for our play. (After a pause) You know I do 
not like to hear those men talk; sometimes they 
are angry, I think. 

First Daughter: They only seem so, I guess. Still, 
one man, that went out first, must have been so. 

Second Daughter : As we came here ? 

First Daughter: Yes. That was Mr. Dudley; and 
mother doesn't like him, I think. She says his 
talk is too snappy ; and I told her perhaps he was 
like a click beetle, snapping to set himself aright. 

Second Daughter: I like it quiet best. (After a 
pause) Do you remember how, a while ago, the 
robins played here, and sang? I liked their 
meetings best. And you remember that song we 
had of the robin? 



SIR HARRY VANE 75 

First Daughter: Yes, let us sing it. 

(They sing) 

The greensward drank the robin's song, 
And found it dew and sunshine to it ; 
And they that Hstened found ere long, 
With life his music could endue it: 
For mignonettes and clover-blooms 
Breathed victory soon o'er winter tombs, 

(Enter Vane, from street, and listens. When 
they observe him, he advances.) 

Vane : What hermit-thrush sings here ? 

Second Daughter: Oh, Mr. Vane, we are glad you 
are come. 

First Daughter: You should say, Governor Vane, 
Grace. 

Second Daughter: (coyly) Are you Governor Vane? 

Vane : I hardly know, little one, whether I am. 
Sometimes I wish I were not, and were as you, 
Care-free, and thinking of the robin's song. 
But call me what you wish, I've names for you. 

Second Daughter: What are they? 



^6 SIR HARRY VANE 

Vane : Oh. big words for little folks — 
A Keren-happiich, child of beauty, she; 
Jemima thou, full handsome as the day. 

First Daughter: These must be new! 

Vane : Oh no, but old. You know 
Job had some daughters, these the names of two 
Who brought him comfort after he was tried. 
Ye are the ones to bless this day to me. 

(Re-enter Anne Hiitehinson.) 

Anne Hutchinson : I knew that voice , and could not 
stay within. 

Vane : These voices brought me, from my homeward 
way. 
To listen. When the Arab hears a song 
He much delights in, straight he takes to wine, 
That in his glass he may his favor measure; 
And oft, they say, his praise so overflowing, 
Ingluts the mind, that surfeit drowns for him 
Appreciation, and shuts off his praise. 
How better is it thus to lose the song 
Only in capture of the singers ! 

Anne Hutchinson: They 

Quite willingly are taken, and I fear 
Are one more burden to a heavy day. 



SIR HARRY VANE yy 

Vane : No more than was their robin to the lawn. 
Without their cheer the day a weary close 
Had seen ; for troubles have increased. 

Anne Hutchinson: I know; 

The men were here; I learned then of some cause 
Why care intrudes. 

Vane : I saw them going hence. 

Anne Hutchinson : Three others earlier went. From 
Dudley's mien, — 
I stayed not by, lest nerveless at his speech, — 
One might feel sure that care would touch the one 
That must oppose him. 

Vane : Then, was Dudley here ? 

Anne Hntchinson: Yes, he with Stoughton; then 
came Wilson too. 

Vane : You heard them not ? 

Anne Hutchinson : Not them ; but plainly saw 
They bear a will must teach you to be brave, — • 
Brave for occasion, as now brave at heart. 

Vane: Pray that I shall. I know a struggle comes; 
How great, far-reaching, and with what result. 
Unknown ; but one that seems to me a strife 
Where firm religious peace should reign ; a feud 



78 SIR HARRY VANE 

Within the courts of state ; and, worse, a stand 
Where action's either issue fails of praise — 
Such credit as I feel could nerve me most, — 
Since not on alien but fraternal ground. 
Yet, surely, there is ever left some course 
For honest valor; this I mean to find. 
Our business we must fashion to the truth, 
If times permit, ourselves unhelped with if. 

(Going) : The Cottons will be waiting. 

(The tivo girls, who meanwhile have been near, 
the older busy with some flowers, the younger 
with Vane, now bid him their goodbyes. The 
one hands him some carefully selected flowers; 
the other has him wait while she brings some.) 

Anne Hutchinson: Your desire, 

I well believe, will prosper as for you ; 
The business of the State, our times constrain 
To doubtful courses ; and we can but trust 
The welfare of our Colonies may yet 
Advance to truth. 

Vane: God grant! — Thanks, little ones. 

(Exeunt; Vane passing out to street, others 
within. 



SIR HARRY VANE 79 

ACT SECOND. 

Scene V. Salem. A Public Place. 

{The militia, on parade, are intercepted. The 
crowd taunts them, because of ensign. Much 
excitement. The Colonel seeks to secure an ad- 
vance, but the mob prevents. Fighting. 
Enter, from a street, Endicott, and another 
Citizen. ) 

Endicott: Peace, ho! What brawl is this? 

Citizen: Look, where they fight! 

Endicott: Sirrah, the cause?— Ah, 'tis the flag, they 
cry. 

Citizen : Our town militia ! 

Endicott: And our freedom's guard! 

Well may they taunt ! This rag of papist shame 
Too long has cursed our streets. Who does not 

dare? 
What? Shall we have a Romish clout to wave 
In sky too blue for Error's mask of night? 
No, no ! I'll fight !— We will not bend the knee 
To bones of saints, and relics of the dust, 
Who serve a living God. His saints are here! 
They fight His battles yet !— Down, Talcott, down ! 
— Then, rush we in! — Stand back! 



8o SIR HARRY VANE 

Citizen : Alas, the deed ! 

(The ensign is seised by one, Talcott, and home 
fo Endicott. They advance, the crowd -fighting 
hack the militia.) 

Endicott: Now out, thou popish emblem of St. 
George ! 
And thou, be witness to a better cause ! — 
St. George may back to Rome. This ensign says, 
We knife the saint that would bring Rome to us. 
Colonel, your flag! {Great applause.) 

Colonel: Sir, this was England's flag: 

You shall repent ! How dare you heap insult ? 
{Cheers, hisses.) 

Endicott: The King should choose his colors with his 
wits: 
If color-blind, then let him feel this gap. 

{Exeunt Colonel and Militia.) 

— Friends, brethren, no dishonor do we intend 
To true authority. The hand we lift. 
Against the blot, and not the ensign's honor. 
Is meant. Remember the dragon's fate, and him 
Seen in the Apocalypse whom sainted men 
Must brave. Who will? (Loud approval) Looks 
it not worthier now? {Holding ensign to view) 



SIR HARRY VANE 8i 

White rose and lily, men's purest emblems, oft 
Have crimsoned to know the wearer. Must the 

Cross 
Its fairest meanings lose? — The dragon's blood 
Is in't. {Throwing cross dozmi, it is torn by the 

crowd. ) 
— Ye fight the fight of faith, saints all ! 

(Exit Endicott, follozved by approving crowd. 

Others, a few, remain.) 

First Citizen: Dare-devil and hero are to some eyes 
akin. 

Second Citizen: This were a shame which wrought 
by rabble hands 
Would merit strong rebuke. But violence 
Still less becomes the magistrate. When thus 
A known exemplar of the people's law, 
That should their rights defend, their will express, 
Shall arm himself to beat their scepter down, 
What must we fear? 

Third Citizen : We dare not let this deed 
Fly as our colors. 

First Citizen: Set it at half-mast. 

Third Citizen: A signal of distress? Sea-sickness 
only, 



82 SIR HARRY VANE 

The Court will answer, and find its bill of health 
To silence you. 

Second Citizen: If that can cover all 

The voyage of our ship of state, the Court 
Outcertifies the faith that Heaven warrants. 

Third Citizen: Our lower courts annul the higher 
Court 
Ofttimes. We suffer while th' appeal is stayed. 

Second Citizen: Still, since we cannot bring that 
whisper down, 
And make it as a trumpet to dead ears ; 
Since we must rather urge our whisper up. 
Thro' prayers, or tears, and broken arguments, 
To where our faint persistent pleadings may 
Touch the compassionate Throne; we shall do well 
To make the findings of our Court at least 
Such broken argument. 

Third Citisen: Our tears — your prayer. 
Well. — Here, what word bring these? 

(Enter two of the militia.) 

Second Citizen: How came this fight? 

First Militiaman: It came, sirs, not from us. The 
usual order 



SIR HARRY VANE 83 

We had observed. It was our training-day, 
The ensign now as always led our steps ; 
But certain men have dared dishonor it 
Before and often. To-day their crime is done. 
We find that Roger Williams spurred them to it. 
You know that hater, how he sees a crime 
In any harmless thing, i' the very face 
Of innocence itself. 

Second Citizen : I doubt it not ; 

We might have known his hand was in it, true. 

Second Militiaman: And into trouble he. For they 
have sent 
To apprehend him. 

Third Citizen: If his foolish flock 

Permit. 
First Citizen: He has been often warned, a man 

Forbidden of Court. — But what of Endicott? 

First Militiaman : He is your magistrate ; look you to 
him. 

{Exeunt Militiamen,') 

Second Citizen: We see now who did instigate the 
crime, 
Who hanseled it. What say you? I propose 
We go forthwith, make out reports of same. 



84 SIR HARRY VANE 

Indicting both, to Boston post them ; then, 
Our hands are clean. 

First Citizen: Agreed. 

Third Citizen : Let us go straight. 

{Exeunt Citizens.) 

{Curtain.) 



ROGER WILLIAMS. 



ACT THIRD. 

Scene I. Boston. House of the General Court. 

Vane: Our minute business done, we listen now 
To some communication out of Salem. 
Will Secretary Nowell please to read? 

Nowell {reads) : "To the Honorable, the General 
Court, Greeting: We, hereinafter subscribed citi- 
zens of Salem, voicing as we believe the senti- 
ment of our townsmen of the better sort, respect- 
fully salute you. 

We regret to report that, at the late training- 
day of our militia, a mob intercepted them in drill, 
and that in the struggle which ensued our mag- 
istrate, John Endicott, violently seized the ensign, 
and dishonored it by cutting therefrom the red 
cross of St. George. 

We also regret to report that this action of the 
mob seems to have been instigated by our Salem 
pastor, Roger Williams. 

Believing that such actions bring discredit upon 
our community, and are a dishonor to the colors 
of our dread Sovereign ; and that the safety of 
our peace and honor so demand, we hereby 
humbly pray: first, that Mr. Endicott be dealt 
with as your honorable body shall think best; 
and moreover, that the ban now standing against 
Roger Williams be so enforced as to require his 
85 



86 SIR HARRY VANE 

speedy removal from us." — This, Sir, is the com- 
munication, which same bears the names of cer- 
tain worthy men of Salem. 

Vane (after a pause of evident anxiety) : 
We await your pleasure, brethren. 

Winthrop : Word of this 

Brings no surprise, or little. But, regret 
Attends it. 

Dudley : 111 attends it, brethren, unless 
It may now serve occasion. For, regret 
Has served this Court, has served our church, and 

served 
Our every deed so long, we honor it; 
When it, with timely turn, should honor us. 
Regret to shame, regret to mastery. 
Are two paths quite diverse : choose which you will. 
True, as regards a likely sequence of 
That humbled cross, there may arise a fear 
Lest, not the papist rent, but ensign's loss 
Report us as disloyal to the Crown ; 
The more as Endicott is of our Court. 
We would do well to clear us of such blame. 
But as for Williams, — we purge us now of him, 
Once and for all, or else we stand betrayed 
To every smiting hand of discontent. 



SIR HARRY VANE 87 

I call for reading of that just resolve 

Which passed our Court, but long unheeded, stands 

Our just rebuke. 

Vane: The Secretary will read, 

Nowell (reads) : "Whereas, Mr. Roger Williams 
hath broached and divulged divers new and dan- 
gerous opinions, against the authority of magis- 
trates, as also wrote letters of defamation, both of 
the magistrates and churches here, and that be- 
fore any conviction, and yet maintaineth the same 
without retraction ; it is therefore ordered, that 
the said Mr, Williams shall depart out of this 
jurisdiction within six weeks now next ensuing." 

Haynes: Since I summed up the case, and spoke 
the verdict. 
When first the ban was ordered ; I may now 
Briefly recall, and newly urge that plea. 
His hand in Salem's insurrection shows 
An Ishmael-likeness in revolt from State 
Demands apportionment of Ishmael's lot. 
Four charges, from a mass of evidence. 
Gave warrant to expulsion. First, attack 
Upon our charters ; then, denial of right 
To share an oath or rights of worshiping 
With unregenerate men; his Baptist voice 



88 SIR HARRY VANE 

That cries, "Repent the sin of English Church 

Communion ;" lastly this, we magistrates 

Are without right to punish breach of laws 

Pertaining to beliefs. These errors we 

Cannot but count subversive of our good. 

Three times ere this our Court has moved against 

him, 
And ever with great care. Our leniency 
Let slip the urging of this ban, when that 
His illness interfered ; but he no less 
Has urged, to our discomfort, his appeals. 
To-day let there be no uncertain voice 
To call for swift enforcement of this act. 

Bellinghaui : A lenient way was good ; a tolerant 
way — 
The way of charity and trust to truth — 
Were better. Else, why left we English homes? 

Dudley : We ever would deny, that since we came 
As separating brethren, to seek out 
Within these irksome borders a new soil 
In which to plant our faith, we therefore give 
To every hand to plant whatever seed 
His erring taste may choose. We not deny 
The right to do as we have done. Let go 
This man, and all who would dissent. It is. 
As our good Cotton hath so wisely said. 



SIR HARRY VANE 89 

Enlargement, not confinement, we impose. 

Bellingham : The imposition is the wrong we do. 
We freely came, nor question he may go 
As freely. But to drive is taking path 
May lead us to a custom of dismay. 

Cotton: We follow, not establish, precedent. 
Recall how from the first we set those forth 
Who were unmeet for habitation with us. 
One Thomas Morton, we drove hence, and burned 
His house ; again, six souls at once we sent 
As unacceptable; two others, then. 
For their contempt of Court, we sent away ; 
And Philip Ratcliff, whose malicious speech, 
In scandal of the law and church at Salem, 
Cost him some forty pounds, with loss of ears, 
We banished ; and a Henry Lynn was whipped, 
And sent away, for writing into England 
Against us here. These paid a penalty 
As hard, for crimes not worse, as you exact 
From Williams. I regret the need, regret 
That I am led so now to voice that need. 
Of his departure. Be it so. The price 
Is not too great, we trust, to pay for peace. 

Dudley: This were small payment; is, I fear, the 
first 
Of others heavier far. 



90 .SIR HARRY VANE 

Vane: You purchase now 
By method will bankrupt your treasury 
Of men ; and if it bring a peace, will bring 
That peace which follows on that warning word, 
"My Spirit shall not always strive with men." 
Ev'n so. As many as will reaffirm, 
And now enforce, this order of your choice, 
Will stand to witness to such covenant. 

{They stand; Coddington, Bellingham, and two 
others alone dissenting.) 

— The ear of Malchus lopped, the time yet serves 
A further thirst of Peter's sword. 



'Twas for the Kingdom's right that Peter dealt 



Haynes: But, Sir, 
'Twas for 
That blow. 

Bellingham : Was it ? or for his fear ? 

Haynes: Fear stands 

One sentinel, at every kingdom's gates, 

Without it oft rash armies would intrude ; 
It guards the church, its chancel, altar, desk; 
It stands to safeguard every mait of trade ; 
It waves a warning hand thro' every law ; 
It drives the helm upon the surging seas; 



SIR HARRY VANE 91 

Its pallor captains every battlefield , 

Its still small voice rules every worthy life. 

Need we lament it sentinels our Court? 

Vane: Now speaks Elihu, and the spirit in him, 
Denying, "Days should speak," says, "Breath of 

God 
In man is voice of God." Blow on, O winds ! 
The voices of our counsel darken all. 
The Ancient of Days may yet demand of us 
That we gird up our loins, and be true men, — 
Since we cannot voice Him. — Your pardon, 

Haynes ; 
You have some measure to commend for action? 

Haynes: This, — and it needs our care, lest fear 
denied, 
Too strong or gentle be our dealing now. 
The course of Endicott we much regret ; 
Not that we think his act was wholly wrong, • 
Or meant as breach of loyalty to Crown ; 
But rather an expression of dissent 
Against that papist emblem, which we too 
Dislike. Mistake it was that in such mob 
One of our number should have taken part. 
If we shall make some minute to absolve 
Our Court from blame, admonish Endicott, 



92 SIR HARRY VANE 

And disenable him as magistrate 

For some brief term ; we shall set things to right 

To English eyes, and quiet Salem's broil. 

Bellingham : This meets approval, as I think, save 
that 
Our Haynes that frightened at a papist flag, 
Waves word to view that bears an equal blame. 

Vane : We can "absolve" the word, as now the 
Court. 
If such the action you would now confirm. 
Absolving us, dealing admonishment, 
And disenabling till our Court may choose. 
Let this be now thus formally approved. 

(All rise. As they are seated, enter Hugh Peters 
and John Endicott, who now take their places.) 

— Other communication out of Salem 
Is now in hand! Can Secretary read? 

Nozifell : The characters are large, but foreign. Sir. 

Vane: One rather more so we have sought to make. 
— This, Endicott, the meaning of these plays. 
Our Court, while bearing you the wonted grace, 
Has heard, with some misgivings, of your part 
In Salem's uproar; and, to clear the Court 



SIR HARRY VANE 93 

Of likely blame, thought best deny that we 
Approved the act. They also deemed it meet 
That you be disenabled some brief time, 
As pledge of our sincerity in this. 
I cannot ask you, as some courts might do, 
"Have you good reason why such sentence now 
Be not pronounced?" since, ere you entered, that 
Was done. Still, we would listen to your word. 

Endicott: 'Tis true I lifted hand against St. George, 
And openly. I chose the day, and not 
As Gideon, who thro' fear did cast, by night, 
His father's heathen altars to the dust. 
Like shame was ample warrant for my deed, 
Without a cloak of night. This my defense. 
If a dishonor rise from honor's path, 
I am content. Nor, brethren, do I blame 
This Court for action in the case. I know 
The need that warrants it. My one regret 
Is, you must share a blame I chose for mine. 

Cotton: Needless to say, we share the honor more, 
Enact this graceless part for public good, 
And shall be forward to restore the trust 
When time permits. 

Peters: No blame for Endicott 

Is warranted. Good, that you view it so. 



94 SIR HARRY VANE 

Hasten what time his office be restored. 
But I commend you much for what I learn 
Has just been done, to rid us of the man 
Who moves the people to uneasiness, 
As none else could. That Salem will rejoice, 
Save few, I can assure you. Williams gone. 
And Salem's breeze will quiet into calm. 

Vane: That work is done, needless enforce it more. 
I take it you will have a summons sent 
Forthwith ; that he may come to Boston, whence 
You will secure his passage into England. 

Haynes : If he come not, as hitherto we found, 
That Captain Underbill, with sloop, be sent 
To fetch him with all haste. 

Cotton : Agreed. 

Vane: It serves. 
We meet in January term. Farewell. 

(The Court is adjourned. Exeunt all save Vane 
and Bellingham.) 

Bellingham : They have an argument will fetch a 
foe : 
Where reason could not, sloop and Captain may. 
And is there any smirk can dispossess 
Timid concern, like, " 'Tis the common good" ? 



SIR HARRY VANE 95 

Vane : Whatever claims, in sophistry, men make, 
If seen in clear cold reason, as in good time 
All claims are justly viewed, will give denial 
To juggling minds that wrought such erring 

claims. 
These know, as we, that liberty of soul 
Is what they fear, lest somehow truth may fall 
In open conflict, as their form of truth, 
Truth's effigy, well might. But, if they will 
So work out their salvation with a fear 
That lets not God work with them, then He will 
So work against them, as to bring Him near, 
A Presence that no stumblings can quite lose. 

Bellingham : Still these, our stumblings, make a 
troubled path 
To travel. 

Vane : True ; but wisdom's path is not 
For every foot, but few. 

Bellingham : And their feet find 
The thorns that others cast. 

Vane: Such buffetings 
We haply need : the Perfect Life had such. 
— You must be going ? I need tarry ; for 
The Captain of the Hector, whose curt mate 
Comes not to answer to our charge, sent word 



96 SIR HARRY VANE 

He would here speak with me. Time is our ships 
Be dealt with strictly ; they too much presume. 

Bellinghmn : True, bring them front ; and let them 
scent our rod. 

Vane: I shall not shilly-shally; he must come. 
{Exeunt.) 

ACT THIRD. 

Scene H. The Same. At the Wharves. 
{A vessel, the Hector, is seen at anchor, with the 
King's colors. Also certain other boats. Some 
of the men on shore. Excitement.) 

Enter a Marshal and four Sergeants. 

Marshal : A hubbub, ho ! 

First Sergeant : They will be rough ; have care. 

Marshal: How now, good boatswains, mates? what 
ails this restless crew? 

First Boatswain (supported by confused cries) : You 
come to take him, eh ? Take him, you take us all. 

Marshal: Quiet, men, quiet! We have here our 
authority. 

Second Boatswain: Whose? 



SIR HARRY VANE 97 

Marshal : Our Court commissions us ; we serve their 
order. 

First Boatswain : You corsair crew ! You see that 
flag? There's our defense. (Many confused 
cries. ) 

Marshal: Your flag is our flag too. 

Second Boatsiuain (derisively) : Why not display it, 
then? You can't produce one, say? 

Marshal: No more of this. — Your Captain gives his 
order too. — Where is his mate? 

Third Boatszvain (and others) : Pull in, pull in! — 
The flips, our Captain did! — Hold on, old pegs! 
No, no, you pass not here. 

Marshal (to First Sergeant) : Go, fetch the Captain 
hither. — 

(Exit First Sergeant) He is not far; you may be- 
lieve his word. 

First Boatszvain: This crew will stand together. 
What wrong has Millerd done? 

Second Sergeant: The Court will answer that; we 
come to make arrest. Besides, all know what for. 



98 SIR HARRY VANE 

First Boatswain : We will bestir the Court, if Millerd 
go. (All cry loud assent.) 

Marshal: Look you, and they, to that; but this is 
first. 
— Hear now your Captain's word. 

{Rc-cntcr First Sergeant, with Captain.) 

— Captain, your men resist our work. 

Captain : Pardon, sirs. — Men, take care ; these are 
the Court's officers ; let them have way. 

First Boatswain: What, must Millerd be let go? 

Captain: The Court has summoned him; it is but 
right he go and answer them. I have given the 
Governor my consent to this. I think you have 
naught to fear. So, be but patient, men ; this will 
come well. 

(Murmurs of disapproval. But the Captain, with 
Officers, are permitted to pass. They go to 
vessel. ) 

First Boatswain: Mates, a scurvy trick, I say. If 
Millerd goes, beshrew us, if we ought not be- 
swagger the rabble town to a finish. 

Second Boatswain (with many others) : Ay, we 



SIR HARRY VANE 99 

will ! — What possessed our Captain to give them 
leave ? 

Third Boatswain: The steam of the Governor's 
punch ! 

First Boatswain: If his works so, we will show him 
a different brew. 

Second Boatszaain: See what Millerd will say. They 
bring him there. 

(Re-enter Captain and Officers, with Captain's 
Mate.) 

First Boatszvcdn : Three cheers for Millerd ! — Hip, 
hip, hip, hurrah ! 
— A tiger? Yes, we'll tiger-claw their Court. 

Second Boatswain : Ha there, my lad ! they have 
given you a round turn. 

Third Boatszvain (and others) : Hold her strong, 
Mate, and we are with you. Let us round in, all ! 

Captain : Quiet, men ! Stand back ! 

Mate : Faith, boys, said I a word too much ? or more 
than you have said? 

All: No, no, not one! — We're with you, mate: take 
you, they take us all. 

LOFC. 



100 SIR HARRY VANE 

Captain : Quiet, mate ; and men, stand back ! 

Marshal: We will take all, beware. 

Third Boatszvain: Say, do! {All) Do! — Here, flop- 
dudgeon, come. 

First Sergeant: Just wait our warrants, first. 

Third Boatswain: Ah, warrants, sure. — Say, pals, 
what warrant makes him such a josh? 

Marshal: Stand back! — {To Sergeant.) No more! 

First Sergeant : Josh, booh ! A Joshbekashah be the 
lot of every man of you ! 

Second Boatszvain: Whoop! that word's a billy-slip: 
beware, my lads, your heads ! 

First Sergeant: You wild, bewhiskered, outlawed 
crew ! Be still, you lubberbubs ! What make 
you in such brawl? Humph, every one of you a. 
backward track ! 

Third Boatswain: You're backward now, {gestur- 
ing), at the ears. 

Up, hoofs ; hit 'em against this old gray sky. Ker- 
plunk ! 
Warm up against the East wind : we're not there. 



SIR HARRY VANE loi 

Captain: Stand back! — Here's way. 

Marshal: Captain, there! Flush that loud mouth, 
and come with us along. Keep back these rash 
intruders, if you may. 

Captain : They will be merry. On ! They'll have 
their way. 

Mate: A holiday trip, good lads. Sure, come along. 

First Boatswain: That will we, mate. Hector is 
hero yet. 

(Enter a Citizen.) 

Third Boatszvain: Old Diggs, jump on our lumber- 
ing carry-all ; we've found some asses to pull us 
into town. 

{With zvild diordcr, the men follow Officers and 
Captain out.) 

Citizen : A rapscallion crew it is. There's trouble 
yet 
With these unbridled Trojans on our shore. 

(Enter Captain Underhill, attended.) 

— Hello, Achilles ! Some fifth battle here 

Seems raging. Hector fires the fleet ; though now 

Inflamed, our Ajax leads them to the Court, 

If there they may be quenched. But, Hector slain, 



102 SIR HARRY VANE 

And trailed in dust about our city's walls, 
Alone would profit, — an event not near. 

Underhill : Your speech looks Greek : I read but little 
there 
In our strict-handed days. But that was wild 
That met me, sure. All troubles go to Court, 
It seems; and mostly they return, not quenched, 
But fanned to fiercer heat. 

Citizen : Our daily tongue. 
Not Greek, speaks clearly now. 

Underhill: And too much tongue 
Is much the ailment of our Colony. 
We outdo Babel, in desire to reach 
To Heaven's way ; and outdo her confusion. 
Unruly member oft, and mainly when 
Religious ardors lend it faulty zeal. 
They send me now to silence one. It takes 
One sloop of war to each such warring member. 
Our dearth is fleets. 

Citizen: You go to Salem now 
For Williams? 

Underhill : Yes. 

Citizen: Go far to train your guns. 

That best were trained at home. Our harbor turns 



SIR HARRY VANE 103 

A Babel-mandeb, gate of tears, thro' which 
The ships that pass find fated harbor-doom. 
Look, yours ride safely. 

Underhill: Safely, but for him 
I fetch returning. — But, tongues bayed, our scalps 
Need next attention. 

Citizen : So ? 

Underhill : The Pequots rise ; 

Their dark designs look menacing enough. 
I look to be sent out, on my return. 
To quiet them. But first, this holiday. 

Citizen: You quite alarm me with this Indian call. 
Return then soon. 

Underhill: I must be going first. 

(Exeunt.) 

ACT THIRD. 

Scene III. In the Forest of the Pawtucket river. 

(A deep snozv covers, and a wind moves the trees. 
Enter Roger Williams, slowly, then pauses.) 

Williams: I thought a noise had come from yonder 
thicket. 



104 SIR HARRY VANE 

Perhaps not so. Danger is native here. 
Last night the panther's scream startled my sleep ; 
Thrice has the tiger yelled ; the prowling wolf 
Sounds out each pang of hunger with a howl. 
What tossings on midwinter have I known ! 
Hunger and thirst, companions of my vigils, 
Attend me. My escape the Court pursues 
On the wild winter's desolating gales. 
To-day it brightens. Courage steads me yet, 
Though here in wintry forests I may walk, 
A man pursued of men — in conscience free. 
For here I find some ease, a pleasure gained, 
Which were unknown but in such solitudes. 
So driven forth ? Then, welcome that decree ! 
Better an exile, wandering o'er the earth. 
Where bitter days mark all my pilgrimage, 
Than held in chains of superstitous fear. 
"Banished henceforth"? They are harsh-sounding 

words 
To hold within so sweet a sentiment. 
What are such men that I should walk their ways, 
Or hibernate within their serpent's den? 
These ice-girt trees, by January shook. 
With crackling limbs, have more true sympathy 
Than do such hard unfeeling sort of men. 
Nature is next to God, art twice removed; 
I am one step on, nor will retrace it now. 



SIR HARRY VANE 105 

See how He smiles, if thro' cold coverings ; 
It is my comfort, though it should be my last. 

(A stag is seen breaking from the thicket 
beyond.) 
Away in haste? What ill-will frightens thee? 
Has man so lifted up his hand against 
All innocence? O perfect Love, cast out 
That fear ! Let terror too be mortal, faith 
Seems so — else lives by spilling blood. This world, 
Where still dread conflict holds unholy reign 
By evil's law, against a feeble right. 
Gives few faint signs of universal peace. 
Alas, that I, my heart torn with its pangs, 
Should seem ordained — but hold, what sign is here? 

(Three Indians advance from a distance. One 

leads, the others tarry behind.) 
The Indian's step is stealthy, and I fear. 
But no, what cause? Here comes no Puritan. 
I'll speak, and trust the venture of their love. 

{Advances. They meet. Salutations. They 

talk, with Indian words and signs. Separating, 

the Indians retrace their steps. Williams returns 

to take up a bundle.) 
They ask me to go hence with them. Kind words, 
Though spoken by the Indian's lips, O Lord ! 
Here then were chance to end these chilling cares, 
Find some protection in their sheUering huts, 



io6 SIR HARRY VANE 

And share their friendly meal. These I count 

naught ; 
But if that I might bring Thy holy Word 
To these lost children of the race of Shem, 
I should be glad. This Word I bare them once, 
And found it joy its tidings to proclaim, 
And see their faces lit with holy awe. 
Reverent and good their thoughts. For they have 

one, — 
So have they told me in my ministry, — 
Wetucks his name, who much resembles Christ. 
They say that he did walk upon the sea. 
Stilled tempests. They have brought me of his 

peace. 
But I must hence, and find that southern tribe. 
Whose home is on the Narragansett Bay : — 
Thither John Winthrop has informed my steps. 
(Exit.) 

ACT THIRD. 

Scene IV. Boston. House of the General Court. 

Cotton (agitated) : This order calls for such enforce- 
ment, then, 
As can but make this Court rock of offense 
And stone of stumbling to many. It requires 
That all who seem — word alien from just laws — 



SIR HARRY VANE 107 

As dangerous to our Commonwealth, be made 
To quit their sojourn, ev'n with dearest friends, 
At three weeks' expiration, — save indeed 
Some magistrate permitting. This strikes not 
At known offense, but at imputed guilt — 
Folly that will strike back to our worse hurt. 
We hear how Salem now is in uproar. 
We know what anger nurses at the ships. 
We know the dread that now the Indians raise, 
We have such troubles as come nearer still, — 
And will you add this greater? I plead, no; 
Do, and you all but force me to removal. (Sensa- 
tion. ) 

Winthrop : Let us be calm. This measure I present. 
And seek now to make clear. Define we first 
A commonwealth, or body politic, 
As government of such as by consent 
Dwell peacefully at one, for mutual good. 

Vane: All too unqualified. For, think you, how 
You rule out God's consent. And likewise too, 
If you define a state as such by grant 
Of English sovereign, you need take account 
Of what that grant requires. The state you name 
Might be of Turkish pirates, quite as well 
As Christian men. All pagans, infidels, 



io8 SIR HARRY VANE 

Even the Indians here among us, come 
Within your definition. 

Winthrop : Not at all ; 

But if our state rest on our free consent, 
In place of habitation made our own, 
Then no man has the right to make it his. 
Without permission. This we dare affirm. 

Vane : I know not how that we, who are a state 
By virtue merely of the charter given. 
Can so affirm. And more, it follows not 
That when our own consent is truly built 
On just foundation, that we therefore may 
Enforce such rigid, universal rule 
Upon whoso may come. For we are not 
Our own, whom Christ hath bought with price. 

Wmthrop : But right is ours, defending us against 
That which, we think, tends clearly to our ruin. 
Then clearly may we lawfully refuse 
All such as suit not with us, and would harm. 
But doing this, we must take knowledge first 
Of men, ere we receive them. This is clear. 

Vane: Is more confused, fallacious. When deceit, 
That never can be strong, would bluster strength, 
It bundles many weak supports in one. 
Parading more its folly. For, what false 



SIR HARRY VANE 109 

Assumption this, that we deny all right 

Of state to purge itself of hurtful men ! 

It is not whether knowledge may be taken 

Of men ere we receive them, nor if then 

We may refuse such as may suit not with us, 

Or whom we know much hurtful; (though our 

right 
So to enact is not, cannot be proved) ; 
But, whether such illimited dissent 
May charitably obtain. For not who seems 
An enemy is ever so. Recall, 
Elijah seemed to Ahab and his court 
A troubler of that commonwealth, who brought 
A three years' famine, eating out the state ; 
Yet Israel's magistrates were far from right, 
Denying him ; since he to Israel 
Was horseman and the chariot-flames of war. 
Again, the chief priests and the Pharisees 
Gathered a council, said, "What do we, for 
This man works wonders? If we let alone, 
On him will all believe, the Romans come 
And take away our place and nation." So 
They crucified Him — swiftest sort of ban : 
None but the Almighty hand could ever lift. 
Has that Sanhedrin praise of this our Court? 
But, nearer still, here are the Indian tribes, 



no SIR HARRY VANE 

(Who, by your phrase, are perfect common- 
wealths), 
That think our English footing is to them 
A threatened evil — one they now resist, — 
Say you that they may lawfully refuse 
Our coming? No, for we will trust it tends 
To their conversion and eternal hope. 
To shut us out were to reject their light. 
Should not we do to brethren what we ask 
Be done to us by such barbarian tribes? 
Perhaps we suit not with their sachem's likes. 

Winthrop : Surely the one profane less dangerous oft 
Is, than the one religious, of large parts, — 
And yet confirmed in some erroneous way. 

Vane : Such man is oft a blessing to his age. 
For Scribes and Pharisees we will not plead ; 
Who walk their ways may better plead for them. 
Nor do we plead for those in errors bound — 
Only that they be pitied and reformed. 
Not bundled off with burden of our wrath. 
"On some compassion have, who are in doubt, 
Save others, fearful of consuming fire; 
Hate naught but garments spotted by the flesh." 
"Let Ishmael dwell, though wild man that he is, 
In presence of his brethren." Such this Book. 



SIR HARRY VANE in 

(Vane rises. Throughout the speech, the Court 
is seen to be much stirred, and listens closely.) 
— I therefore say, with utmost of restraint, 
My passion only breaking on the rack 
This Court insists providing; that this law 
Is wicked, hurtful, — hatred left to range. 
It leaves these weightier matters of the state 
That touch not deed but conscience, to the frail 
And faulty choice of men. That judgment, God's; 
And priests and magistrates may only judge 
When clearly by His law ; else popery. 
With all its gross groundwork of priestly wrongs. 
Has place. Again, the law is most unjust 
As giving license to reject such men 
As are most eminent Christians — if they suit 
Not with your disposition. Christ will find 
Worse entertainment in this Christian state 
Than Isaac found among Philistine hordes, 
Or Jacob with the Shechemites, or Lot 
In that lust-burned, dead city of the plain. 
For none of these denied to His elect 
A place to dwell. "And to the least of these 
Is unto me," said Christ. Moreover said, 
"Yea, render unto Caesar Cassar's right." 
Yet this a law denies it to our king 
To plant his loyal subjects in his own 



112 SIR HARRY VANE 

Estate ; since some, forsooth, may fear a hurt ! 
The hurt is rather in your rigid rule. 
"Forget not strangers" is the voice of Christ, 
"For some have found them angels unawares;" 
"Drive out the stranger" is the cry you raise, 
"Lest somehow Grace may show where sin 
abounds." 

(Pauses, as being overcome with emotion. As 
Dudley rises to speak. Vane takes his seat.) 

Dudley: Shall we permit to criminate this Court? 
Who calls unchristian, derelict, and void 
Of due solicitude for weal of state? 
Have we not zeal for Zion too at heart? 
God knows how some their vigil-waking nights 
And saddened days fill up with eating care ; 
Lest He may lose from His now scant Estate, 
Among the baser kingdoms of the world. 
This new but favored site. Or so it was, 
Until these stranger hands began to guide 
Their breast-plows of ambition, that uproot 
All chaste and holy plantings, to make way 
For rank and ruinous teachings of their own. 

Bellingham: What speech most criminates, let all 
observe. 

Dudley : These ministers of God can well attest 



SIR HARRY VANE 113 

The truth we speak. Some who but lately met, 
In hope to find surceasing from their fear 
Lest damned heresy should thrive at cost 
Would blanch the Cross of crimson, and let stand 
A specter to our gaze. 'Twas all in vain. 
That Cross must let its crimson to our veins, 
Or we shall lose all triumphs of the faith. 
Ruin is near. 

Cotton : None may deny that now 
Disorder rules, where once democracy 
Of common good and brother-love abode ; 
But fact and cause of fact are son and sire : 
A son bears not the father's fault, so here. 

Dudley : The cause we touch, the fact most touches 
us; 
As parish of each pastor could but tell. 

Bellingham : But, pray, make not some scapegoat to 
bear off 
Sins that imbrue in common all the flock. 

Dudley : We might do worse, if God made Israel to. 
The scapegrace of right teaching and true faith, 
Whose heresies unsettle church and home, 
And set vile throats to barking in our streets 
At reputations leagued with public good. 



114 ^^^ HARRY VANE 

Is whom we need set forth. With safer hand 
Than one, who heedless of the Court's demand. 
Has turned to nearer borders ; there perhaps 
To stir the hatred of our Pequot foes, 
And teach them for his pohtic revenge. 

Winthrop : No, no ; no fear of that. 

.Dudley : We cannot tell ; 

But caution tells we armed an alien hand. 

Vane: Made him an alien first. 

Dudley : His errors did 

To us, before our safety did to him. 

If safety bid that others, alien now 

From spirit of our aim, be alien too 

From where they may withstand that worthy aim; 

Be safety not denied. 

Vane : If any think 

To silence truth by setting prophets forth 
That dare to voice a vision quickens faith, 
(Though chrysalis of creed may fall to death), 
He much mistakes God's workings. Alien seers 
May yet send back a voice shall wake their dreams ; 
Or else — and this be sadder to all thought — 
"Behold days come," saith God, "that I will send 
A famine in the land ; not want of bread, 
Nor thirst for water, but of hearing the words 



SIR HARRY VANE 115 

Of Him whose prophets ye have slain." 
"For where no vision is the people perish." 

Dudley: And where some visions are the people 
perish. 
Our Mistress Hutchinson, as some declare, 
Has had a vision of our humble throne : 
Thereon her husband sat, she at his side 
A prophetess ruled Israel by her fame; 
And we, what humble creatures, did her service ! 

Peters : Pray, tell it not in Gath, nor Askelon ! 

Vane: Ye thither-bound may heed. For ye are sold 
Unto Philistine lords, that will refuse 
The dawning light of truth, though Deborah 
Or Huldah be the bringers-in of hope. 
This humble throne of your pretentious care 
May pass to humbler hedgings, as of old. 
When Israel under Midian chose to seek 
Dens, caves, and rocks, rather than unto God. 
The dark, pale Fear; Faith seeks the open field. 
But hedged and humbled by hard-smiting hands, 
Ye make it once more seen, how patient Truth 
Is fallen in the streets. 
And these our ministers, good men of God, 
Who well have taught us much that we most need, 
Have yet that seeming fear. In their church way, 



u6 SIR HARRY VANE 

Of sleuth on heel, they have, forsooth, arraigned 

Our best of men who both in desk and Court 

Seek only good to all. May God forbid 

That I rebuke an elder ; yet it pains 

Me much at heart that so in privacy 

Such things are wrought. It seems dark days must 

come; 
But, brethren, pray that ye find in them light. 
When David died with vengeance on his lips, 
He voiced a law that Christ has put away; 
And peace I would leave with you, as said He. 
For briefly, brethren, I have letters now 
That call me into England, — business cares 
(Sensation, upon this announcement,) 
Of nature urging my return ; and yet 
As suiting not that all the Court shall know. 
With your consent, I lay this honor down. 

{Confused murmurs of excitement. A pause of 

suspense follows.) 

Haynes: I doubtless voice all thoughts, when I ex- 
press 
Surprise that such announcement is set forth. 
I cannot understand this action, Sir. 
True, private business is of private will; 
Yet, public duty is a public grant 
Entitles all to know its terms are kept. 



SIR HARRY VANE 117 

Those having both in hand, serve not one only; 
Should most respect the greater. 

Peters: We regret 

This word ; and were it not a broken voice 
Expressed it, I should now more boldly say 
A broken faith, had prompted. Surely, Sir, 
A strict arraignment of choice spirits can 
But fail of any good. Is Vane so wise? 
Is he our only herald of the light? 
It saddens much these worthy men of God 
That you, Sir, should be jealous of their rights. 
Or seem so to restrain their liberty. 

Vane : Excuse my speech in that, as sudden, and 
Perhaps upon mistake. 

Peters: Upon mistake. 

Most clearly. What ! shall these that dwelt in peace 
Before your coming, less than two years since, 
Who now find aught but peace to stay their hands 
That weary with their work, hear this beside? 

Vane : The light of Gospel still may bring a sword ; 
And children of the bond-maid still may harass 
The children of the free. 

Peters: Remember, youth 

And brief experience in the things of God, 



ii8 SIR HARRY VANE 

Suit not for pride. Beware peremptory- 
Conclusions, which too apt unto, I find 
You now as ever. For, they hinder much. 

Vane: Nor have I found much that could help my 
task. 
Support withheld, motives impugned, and rights 
Of liberty assailed, would drive the iron 
Into the soul. Why hindrance ever, pray? 

Peters: Hindrance? what say you? Ah, Sir, is not 
this. 
To the wise man, sword and way to victory ? 

Vane: Some souls are tempered for peculiar worth. 
Damascus blades, if marvellous tales be true. 
Have cut floss silk, but no rude rocks have pierced. 

Peters: They blunted not, be sure, at any flesh. 

Vane : Not mine : the iron, I said, had entered in. 
— Permit me yet some word. Emotion comes 
No frequent hindrance to my words. You will 
More suffer it in youth. Yet not so young 
Am I, that you may charge to private gain 
A single act so immature in grace, 
That it forgets my brethren and their good. 
These letters are in hand ; imperative 
The needs of which they speak. Yet, brethren. 



SIR HARRY VANE 119 

know 
My worldly ruin, if such be involved, 
Could not alone induce me to depart. 
I freely say, a greater cause avails 
To my decision. — You have cared to lay 
The blame for such dissensions as now rend 
Our Colony, upon who most laments them. 
— The speech you heard but voiced that here, which 

oft 
In whispered gossip, told in season, out 
Of season, helped to waft afar our peace. 
The troubles stand, be reasons what they will. 
And I, who fear lest God may soon bring down 
Som.e judgment on us all, to chasten us. 
Wish not to linger. Nor the public good 
Can hold, since that most urges my return. 

Hayncs: By no means. Nor were that sufficient 
cause 
For you to urge upon this Court release. 
If public good transcend a private gain, 
Still private gain were matter of concern 
That none would quite deny. But if your cause 
Be some mere crotchet, seeking good support; 
We feed no peevish whim, nor can assent 
To act that would so stir the public mind. 



120 SIR HARRY VANE 

Cotton : I fear the turn this controversy takes — 
May take, I rather say, unless we heed : 
Let this be warning, not retributive. 
These, Sir, are troubled times, and dangers stand 
Too near without, to nourish more within. 
We have sent men to still the Indian's cry 
Of thirst, that massacre alone oft slakes. 
We cannot, at such time, let public good 
Yield all to private gain ; and, need I say, 
I fear a disregard of public good 
In our own zeal is yet more manifest. 

Hayiies: Does Cotton quite forget? I think such 
words 
As these of Vane's, that move us now to grief, 
Came first from Cotton. 

Cotton : I but spoke some hurt 

Then felt ; suggested not my thought. My step 
Were nothing; Vane's would mean unmeasured 
loss. 

Hayncs : Indeed. 

Winthrop : Indeed, we could not justify 
Such broad impolicy on ground so narrow. 

Vane : I much resent that charge, though must con- 
fess 



SIR HARRY VANE 121 

A ground was given. I too much to feelings 
Put down. The items of the letters stand 
My just rebuke. They seem imperative, 
And I would best obey them, if you will. 
Arrange you for such sequence as may suit 
The time and pleasure of the Court. My need 
Is haste, as yours perhaps a careful step. 

Cotton (after a brief suspense) : Among those times 
for everything, the time 
To think before the time to act, is best. 
Let this be matter for our hearthside thoughts, 
Our evening prayers, and morning's drift of light, 
Or ere we act upon it. I suggest 
That course. 

W'mthrop : A wiser is not seen. 

Vane: Such seems 

The general wish ; will such then be approved. 
(They stand, except Dudley, Peters, and a third, 
who are in conversation. A general stir of ex- 
citement follozifs, as curtain.) 



122 SIR HARRY VANE 

ACT THIRD. 

Scene V. The Same. 

(Certain visitors are present, especially of the 
clergy. A vote having just been taken, the mem- 
bers of the Court are being seated.) 

Vane: Thus by your vote, you choose that this day 
week 
The court of your elections shall be held ; 
If, as your kind resolve seemed to forecast, 
Some unforseen occurrence shall not stay 
This my announced wish. I am resolved; 
And unforseen indeed must be the hand 
Would hold. 

Cotton: The strength of Boston's hand is lent 
To stay you from this course. As we well know. 
Mere word of yesterday's proposed release 
Puts Boston in uproar. Our people find 
No ample cause for such unwelcome loss ; 
Nor will permit, save duty shall constrain. 
We still would ask, that ere this date is come, 
Which now is set for such lamented change, 
You heed this uproar, and consider well 
A step so girded by the people's good. 

{Winthop is seen to re-enter from without.') 



SIR HARRY VANE 123 

Vane: Like David, "It is God that girdeth me," 
(So I will trust), "and maketh my way perfect." 
He is but poorly led whose girding power 
Shall not reach upward to that unseen Hand. 
Therefore, His providence ; my prayer as yours, 
That God may cause His thought to move before 

us. 
Not for the honor, brethren, you have done me, — 
Though some have falsely said,— I came to be 
•A brother loved of brethren, league of soul 
That knows but One as Master and as Lord ; 
But that I might enjoy, in purity, 
The ordinances of our Saviour Christ. 
Before Him I now witness, this alone 
Was all my wish. For this, the accolade 
That left some seal of worldly pomp to me ; 
Collegiate honors, for conscience too contemned; 
And such hopes of preferment as held forth 
Their bribe of worldly ease, I counted naught 
For excellency of that knowledge of Christ, 
That ministers to the soul. I boast it not; 
It were as nothing measured by such gain. 
But, brethren, where that gain ? You have repaid 
Most liberally, in coin I valued least ; 
And have withheld that meed I valued most. 
You honor me, — my gratitude is deep ; 



124 SIR HARRY VANE 

Could we but honor Christ, that honor more 
Would overflow all hearts with gratitude. 
This counsels, true, my step ; though, as was told. 
My letters out of England urge as well. 

Winthrop : Your words are fortunate ; for I am led 
To wonder if you may not still say on, 
As that Apostle, that "one thing you do. 
Forgetting things behind, still reaching forth 
To things that are before, you will yet press 
To mark, for prize of our high calling in Christ ;" 
Though, for this prize, you meanwhile chance to 

know 
"The fellowship of suffering." 

Bellingham : True, paths 

Of world-power may seem royal in their tread ; 
The path of Christ is still for bleeding feet. 

Vane: I see a logic stronger than I dreamt, 
When I invoked it. 

Winthrop : But, — I meant to call 
Attention more especially to word 
A sentry brings, that bears directly on 
Our sterner duties, indirectly too 
On question now in hand. 

Vane : The Court will hear. 



SIR HARRY VANE 125 

Winthrop : The sentry stands without ; let him be 
brought. 
He brings a token you will care to see. 

{Vane speaks to a Halberdier, zvho conducts the 
Senty in. In the Sentry's hand is a rib of a slain 
soldier, pierced thro' by an Indian arrow. A sen- 
sation results.) 
— A gruesome message, Sir. You wish to know 
Its meaning. Lion Gardiner, our stout, 
Heroic soldier, holding Saybrook Fort, 
In dangers thick, has sent this to our Court 
To tell a story you would not else believe. 
For it is often said, a savage arrow 
Can do small harm. In that false trust we dare 
Commit our soldiers' fortunes in this hour 
Of Pequot peril. This is argument 
Convinces all who have no ribs to lose. 

Peters: Some think we might lose one, if from a rib 
Our priestess of opinionism sprang! 

{Exit Sentry, attended by Halberdier.) 

Winthrop : But, more to purpose, shall we not agree 
Our sentry brings a warning we should heed ; 
First, for our soldiers' reinforcement ; then 
For ours, that at such time we seek to lose 
All envies, all misprisions, in the care 



126 SIR HARRY VANE 

That duty's trumpet-call find none remiss? 

(Re-enter Halberdier, who speaks to Vane.) 

Doubtless these rivalries have helped to turn 
Our worthy Vane's first faith to faltering zeal ; 
And, these forgot, that faith might soon revive. 

Vane: I learn that some committee from the church 
Awaits admission. Let them now be brought. 

(Enter a Committee of Women, escorted by Hal- 
berdiers. The Court stands, then all are seated.) 
— These honored women doubtless have some word 
Our Court should hear. We now will give them 
place. 

Mrs. Coddington: As a committee from the church, 
we bring 
Report from meeting just, adjourned. I read: 
(She reads) "Whereas, we learn with a deep sense 
of disappointment, that our Governor, Sir Harry 
Vane, has announced his intention to depart from 
among us ; we, the women of Boston, and your 
sisters in Christ, desire to present to the Court 
this resolution of our protest: 

Resolved, that we recognize in Sir Harry Vane, not 
only the civil head of our Commonwealth, but a 
spiritual head and adviser of dearest regard ; and 



SIR HARRY VANE 127 

that we would look upon his departure from us as 
a very sad loss. 
Resolved, that we do not apprehend the necessity 
of his departure upon the reasons alleged; and 
that we are rather led to hold it as a judgment 
upon the cold and unsympathetic relations that 
some have shown towards him, a judgment which 
we would seek prayerfully to avoid. 
Resolved, that this protest, as voiced by the almost 
unanimous convocation gathered for this cause, 
be, with all humble regards, presented to the 
General Court now in session." 
— We need no further word, but still to say. 
We humbly trust the Court will heed ; that you 
This earnest prayer of sisters, mothers, wives, 
Of those who here decide, may not deny : 
That so our hopes may prosper. We take leave. 

(Exeunt the Halberdiers, followed by the Com- 
mittee. Vane is observed to be much affected.) 

Cotton: Our gentler comrades, in these works of 
care. 
Reach right conclusion first. Hearts come to vote 
Or ere the upper house of reason can. 
But still we come : I now believe we come. 



128 SIR HARRY VANE 

Dudley: Where women's feet once stood in outer 
court 
Of Jewish temple, there the Holy Place 
Of God was guarded, and His cherubim 
Stood sentries to the Ark where law was reared. 
Their women nearest hearthside altars then 
That law sustained, their men within the gates. 
I never read His law before her step 
Paraded: once it flamed behind her step 
Presumptive, sending lurid warnings on. 
O that we had their wisdom in their law ! 

Bcllingham: The law of Christ, "nor male nor 
female, all 
In Him are one." And law is perfected. 
Is comprehended, in the word of love 
Their hearts best know. One dispensation off 
You stand, from where His kingdom's scepter lifts. 

Vane: Torn by conflicting passions, I am one 
That, to myself, seem to embody well 
Our fevered Colony. A sleepless night 
My "fellowship of suffering" in that prayer 
Of His Gethsemane, held still the cup 
To lips that, may be, were too swift to drink; 
For my will seems outstripping His in this, 
As these good women teach. While Boston's hand 



SIR HARRY VANE 129 

Reached out in strength, as Cotton said, to stay 

Me from resolve, its strength could not avail ; 

But if it be a woman's gentler hand 

Entreating so, I yield. With your consent, 

Who to my wish for parting now have set 

A date, I will withdraw the wish, and say 

I can but be obedient to the church. 

Nor without leave of such in Christ would go, 

I am content to strive to follow on, — 

That Scripture's page! — forgetting things behind, 

That I with you may still press to the mark 

Of prize of His high calling, in our task. 

If you will be thus minded, let us trust 

To Him who is the Author of all peace 

To commonwealths, as unto every heart. 

I feel, moreover, every care should turn 

To putting down the Pequot at our front. 

As first step to that peace ; and would suggest 

Such early reinforcements as are meet, 

(Upon first mention by Vane of his change of 
intention, there is great surprise shown, followed 
by an outburst of applause; from which a few 
only refrain.) 

Cotton: All hearts will bless this day, and pray for 
that 
When outward rest will join our peace within. 



130 SIR HARRY VANE 

One thing alone is needful now, that we 
Put off that time for re-election, till 
Appointed time in May. I would so move. 

{This action is taken, with a prevailing vote; 
though some fezv are seen unfavorable. Groups 
in excited conversation, some hearing congratula- 
tions, as curtain.) 



ACT THIRD. 

Scene VI Room in the House of Anne Hutch- 
inson. 

(Be foe the large fireplace are seated Mrs. Cod- 
dington and Jane Hawkins; near by, the tzuo 
daughters of Anne Hutchinson; at one side, Anne 
Hutchinson is busy with a spinning wheel.) 

First Daughter (turning the pages of a book) : Lot, 
Elijah, Obadiah, Job, — and who is next, Grace? 

Second Daughter: Zaccheus ! 

First Daughter : Ah, no ; Daniel. Won't you remem- 
ber him? 

Second Daughter: No, let us put away this "Spirit- 
ual Milk ;" I am tired. 



SIR HARRY VANE 131 

Mrs. Coddington: Tired of "Spiritual Milk"— of 
Mr. Cotton's book? Let us see (taking the book) 
"Spiritual Milk for American Babes — for their 
soul's nourishment — drawn out of the breasts of 
both Testaments." Ah, what a dear little book, 
for little folks ! Here are pictures of Bible men 
— not very handsome men, Grace, but very good, 
—-and here are catechisms, my! you shall find all 
about the Lord's Supper, the Judgment, and all 
that; and here are some pretty poems, I suppose, 
— you have read them? — some? — doctrines, and 
dissertations, and dialogues. What is this one? — 
yes, a dialogue — "Christ, Youth, and the Devil." 
I think it is rather scarey, isn't it ? Yes, I believe 
it is. — Read it? Oh, no; you won't need such 
warning, I hope. You are to be always a good 
girl, listen to — oh, you know it, do you? — "the 
conclusion?" — well, let us hear. 

Second Daughter (repeating) : 

"Thus end the days of woful youth. 
Who won't obey nor mind the truth ; 
Nor hearken to what preachers say, — ■ 

Mrs. Coddington: Well, I fear that would be rather 
hard sometimes — they say so much, and such 
different things. 



132 SIR HARRY VANE 

Jane Hawkins : Ah, it would that. It be that way in 
Boston ; and it is false this and false that, and oh, 
but I fear there be oft a lying spirit in our 
prophets. There be but one or two that teaches 
clear. 

Mrs. Coddington: Go on, Grace; what is the con- 
clusion? 

Second Daughter : "But do their parents disobey : 
They in their youth go down to hell, 
Under eternal wrath to dwell. 
Many don't live out half their days 
For cleaving unto sinful ways." 

Mrs. Coddington : You say it well. But, I think Mr. 
Cotton's spiritual milk is a little too blue for 
babes, don't you ? 
— There, your mother will be correcting us, for our 
mischief. 

Anne Hutchinson: May be. Take care. But per- 
haps you are right about that, for I think it is a 
little blue. Still, many strong ones have been so 
nourished. 

Jane Hawkins: More likely this has soured a little, 
for having been around where pastor Wilson has 
thundered. 



SIR HARRY VANE 133 

Anne Hutchinson: Ah, Jane, you are not hearkening 
to one preacher. You need take care. 

Jane Haivkins: Let him aroint! we be not for his 
hurt. 

Anne Hutchinson: We hope not, Jane. Yet he is 
the one seems most to feel our hurt; and who, 
when late I was called into their conference, 
sought most some ground of disagreement with 
me. We must bear him no ill will, though I am 
sure there is none who bears us more. 

Jane Hawkins: And such as will strengthen, I say. 
For the Lord has shown me that you be to get 
their persecutings. You be to get it. It is the 
way of this wicked world : God suffers it to be. 

Mrs. Coddington: You are a miserable comforter, 
Jane. We hope, not so. Our hopes are now 
again revived, that Vane is stayed ; and we look 
for a more favoring day. 

Anne Hutchinson: Jane may be right; we may "be 
to get it," as she says. But if so, let His will 
prevail ; we must follow Him. It may be, how- 
ever, that other urgent things will turn their 
thoughts away from us. The Indians are much 
to be feared; Mr. Endicott's attacks are not 



134 SIR HARRY VANE 

sufficient, it seems, and they are now sending out 
Captain Underbill. 

Jane Hawkins: There, they put him in trust, well 
knowing his sin with the cooper's wife, and yet 
persecute the innocent. It be a shame upon us, 
that such men are put in honor. 

Anne Hutchinson: Oh well, Jane, that was not a 
religious opinion ; and so not so bad, they think. 
And if the Indians kill him, they are saved that 
work. — But, with Indians to fear, and the ships 
in turmoil ; with Mr. Hooker's announcement that 
he, with many others from Newtown, are to de- 
part with the coming of spring; and other such 
cares, — they may forget us. 

Mrs. Coddington: And the Fast Day, remember, is 
now being arranged for, and is meant of them to 
help quiet our controversies within. 

Anne Hutchinson: Indeed. But that is rather to be 
feared. Nothing could be better than such ap- 
pointed day, if true sincerity might prompt there- 
to ; but who may doubt that here is not a truce, 
but some further strategy? — But, Mary Dyer 
comes. Pardon. 

(Enter Mary Dyer.) 



SIR -HARRY VANE 135 

— Ah, why so late? These friends were early here. 

Mary Dyer: I meant to be, but then I was awhile 
detained. Soon time for all now, true. Sad inci- 
dent it was that kept me too. 

Anne Hutchinson : It was ? 

Mary Dyer : Our poor distracted neighbor, goodwife 
Baulston, is surely one possessed. 

Mrs. Coddington : Why, how is that ? 

Mary Dyer : Poor thing, her troubles have unsettled 
her. You know how she has taken these con- 
troversies in the church to heart, and long has 
been a brooding soul we none could help. Some 
sin has surely blighted her, or else Satan has 
gained a strange power within her life. She felt 
no hope could be for her, at least she found none ; 
and crazed with such suspense she, poor thing, 
has drowned her babe. 

Anne Hutchinson: Can it be possible? 

Jane Hawkins: Aye, that be the Devil sure; she be 
possessed. 

Mary Dyer : Yes, drowned, in their well. — And in 
such frenzy came to me and said, with such cold 
heart that I never had anything so chill my 



136 SIR HARRY VANE 

senses, "I know now the Lord will damn me, for 
I have killed my babe." 

Anne Hutchinson : Distracted quite ! 

Jane Hazukins : The Devil be at work — his deed it be. 

Mrs. Coddington: I never dreamt her madness was 
of such danger. 

Jane Hawkins: They will be accusing our teacher 
here of some evil power over her. 

Anne Hutchinson : She was seldom under my teach- 



Many Dyer: No, they cannot say it was of your 
teaching, for she was here but once or twice, and 
that long ago; and yet she gives as her excuse 
that she was in despair at being under a covenant 
of works. 

Anne Hutchinson: Some would wish to make it so; 
but it is of her own heart and thought only. 
Dreadful calamity. Such minds cannot bear these 
deep but necessary problems of life. It is the 
wreckage that lies waste upon the tides of all deep 
passions — sad wastes of life strewing all shores 
where the storms of this world gather and fall. 



SIR HARRY VANE 137 

Mrs. Coddington: True, and none more sad than 
this, I feel. 

Anne Hutchinson : But others come without. We 
must make ready. 

Jane Hazvkins: It be a sad commencement for the 
hour. 

(Exetimt) 



ACT THIRD. 

Scene VII. The Seekonk river.. 

(A mild day in winter. Enter a canoe, with 
Roger Williams, and two Companions. They 
move slozvly, then pause.) 

Williams: When Winthrop wrote that Narragansett 
Bay 
Would prove a Salem for more quiet days, 
I had misgivings ; yet a hint from God 
I now regard his word ; for this does seem 
Peniel, to one hurt of Esau's hand. 

First Companion: We trust it will be, though sup- 
planter you 
Seem surely not in nature. 



138 SIR HARRY VANE 

Williams : No, God grant. 

Not from the feeblest Indian would I wrest 

An acre of that heritage God gave him, 

Ousamaquin, good aged sachem now 

Of these Pokanokets around Mt. Hope, 

Gave, as I said, a goodly tract of land 

To East shore of this stream, where we might 

dwell ; 
But this, I found was fallen in the edge 
Of Plymouth's claim, and I returned with thanks. 
Near here the Narragansetts dwell, best tribe 
Of all the Indian peoples ; to their West 
The Pequots and Mohicans, warlike folk. 
Invest the woodlands of Connecticut. 
They now affright that Massachusetts Bay 
That sent me forth, and all our settlements. 
Canonicus is sachem of those camps 
That lie adjoining our Aquidneck shores; 
But he is likewise old, and to his nephew, 
Miantonomoh, he commits their care. 
And in consideration, as they said. 
Of kindness and some service to their need, 
They freely give me all this goodly land 
Between Mooshausick, off some distance there, 
Wanasquatucket, lying thither, and 
Nearby Pawtuxet, flowing in below. 
Some presents I have bargained shall be theirs, 



SIR HARRY VANE 139 

But more my steadfast love. If we may find 

Some g-oodly site now near where we may build 

A habitation, such but humble homes 

As may well serve our Salem families, 

We shall be happy, friends, and seek to make 

A refuge for such souls distressed in conscience, 

As may hereafter come. 

Second Companion : Look, Williams, here ! 

{On western hank, some Indians appear. They 
emerge from a thicket, to a large rock near the 
cove where the canoe is resting. One advances 
and speaks.) 

Indians: Wha-cheer, wha-cheer, netop, wha-cheer! 

WiUiains: What cheer! 

God grant they bring us that! — "Netop" is friend, 
— What cheer, netop! what cheer, netompavog! 
(The Indians appear pleased, and show favor. 
Williams and Companions land their canoe, to 
join them; as a second canoe, zmth three other of 
Willianis' Companions, appears.) 
— A pleasant cove it is. A What Cheer Rock 
Is this henceforth, in token of their word. 

(Landing, Williams and Indians are seen to con- 
verse in their Indian tono-ue. Curtain. 



ACT FOURTH. 

Scene I. Boston. Beacon Hill. 

(At early morning. Signal light still visible. 
Cetain Watches and Wards are on duty. Enter 
Stoiighton and Haynes in uniform.) 

Stoughton: Came any word last night? 

First Ward: None. 

Stoughton: News is oft 
Best silent. 

Haynes: True, and more when unprepared, 
As we have been, for worse. 

Stoughton : Too long. 

First Ward: You seem 
Provided now for action. 

Haynes : Yes, the Court 

Sends Stoughton forth to lead renewed attack. 

Stoughton: Has made Haynes Colonel, too. 

140 



SIR HARRY VANE 141 

Haynes: A Justice spoiled, 
To make poor Colonel. 

First Ward: Justice is advanced, 

If you but deal the Indians well of that. 

Haynes: I know these more as farthings in our 
trade, 

(Handling some musket balls.) 

Than means to purchase peace in Indian camps. 

First Ward : Does like command of Court hold there, 
that none 
Need take more than eleven at one time? 

Haynes: It will be plenty, sure. 

(Enter John Wilson.) 

Our chaplain comes. 

First Ward: Is he turned fighter, too? 

Stoughton: He ever was, 

As some in fields of controversy well 
May witness. 

Wilson: Ah, good morning! — fighter, I? 

Well yes, "my hands to war, and fingers to fight," 
IVIay still be taught. Some preachers choose to go 
On kindlier missions to the Indian. Such 



142 SIR HARRY VANE 

I rather would choose now ; but if they need 
The sterner rod of chastisement, that too 
Has value for tuition. Israel's move 
On Canaan, was not all a preaching to them. 
— Good word from Endicott, betimes. 

Hayncs : What now ? 

Wilson : Our Court did not commission him in vain. 
He with his ninety men made good attack 
On those Block Island chiefs that captured Oldham, 
And ravaged them with death. He now has joined 
With volunteers come from Connecticut, 
And moves upon the Pequots. 

Stoughton : Brave ! Good news 

To help our reinforcements forth. Who brought 
This word? 

Wilson: A messenger reached Vane last night; 
And says that Plymouth's men are furnished forth. 

Stoughton : 'Tis time we were. ( To First Ward) See 

that the bugle sound. 

(First Ward removes to another part of the 

scene,) 
Our men seem laggard. To speak the truth, I fear 
They have — but Dudley comes, and Winthrop. 

These 
Have word, perhaps. 



SIR HARRY VANE 143. 

(Enter Dudley and Winthrop. Bugle sounds.) 

Winthrop : Good morning, brethren, all ! 

Our Captains are on duty; {to Wilson) and you, sir, 
Whom choice by lot, we think, elejcted well 
To chaplain them. — But, your recruits are few. 

Haynes: They gather slowly. More seem coming 
now. 

(Exit Haynes, to another part of the scene. 
Gradually are seen to gather a fair number of 
men, women, and children.) 

Dudley: If haply for your service. But I fear 
Lest murmured disaffections may prove true, 
And controversies that have much unnerved 
For other deeds, may likewise hinder now. 

Stoughton: This I was fearing. 

Winthrop : Let us hope, not so. 

Wilson: Where, brethren, will this lead? I was 
more apt 
To hearken gladly to the lot that called 
Me to this chaplaincy, that so perhaps 
Brief absence might heal up the deep-cleft hurt 
That so divides my flock ; but now, alas, 
Are some, who poisoned in their minds to turn 
Against my teaching, poisoned too against 



144 ^^^ HARRY VANE 

My helping in this needful work afield? 
What subtle power that dread virago wields ! 

Dudley : It is rank wrong ; and yet it may so serve 
To show our greatest fears are not in camp, 
Much as the Indians menace. 

Stoughton: There is truth 

In that ; but little helps it our command. 

Dudley : I know. None looks more prayerfully than 
I 
For your return in triumphs of such peace ; 
Nor, Stoughton, none than you will rather hope 
For our return of peace in church and Court. 

Stoughton : Assuredly. 

(Stoughton removes to another part of the 
scene.) 

Wilson : But that can never be 

Till that procuress of division stand 
No longer ministrant within our gates ; 
Nor until Vane, who else had won our hearts, 
May cease to borrow counsel from her pride. 
Who proves to Saul a she-Gamaliel. 

Dudley : Good preaching, Wilson ; this hand's cun- 
ning works 
To that word's promise. O that Winthrop here 



SIR HARRY VANE 145 

Held now that honor that we let him lose, 

Not knowing our best good ! 
Winthrop : Speak not of that ; 

I shall not covet it. 
Wilson : No, but we may. 

Dudley : And will. The tide now turns to you from 
Vane, 
As May brings on a franchise that will tell. 

Wilson : Release for Vane that he may not decline ! 
My name they call : what now ? 

(The people are seen to he excited. Outcries 
against Wilson are heard. Vane, ivith Attend- 
ants, and Cotton, enter. To them, Haynes and 
Stoiighton come forward, followed by all.) 

Vane: What may this mean? 

Haynes: Sir, here are men refuse — one half, or 
more — ■ 
A service volunteered, because, forsooth, 
The chaplaincy, by lot, has fallen to Wilson. 

Vane : Why, brethren, how should this their needs 
affect ? 

Haynes: That he is under covenant of works, 
And not of grace, they think. 



146 SIR HARRY VANE 

(Renewed outcries against Wilson. Cries of 
"covenant of zwrks," and "legalist," are freely 
heard.) 

Dudley: To this indeed 

It conies, that worthy, godly men, reviled 
And buffeted must be. because they dare 
Oppose the spear-thrusts of a wicked schism 
That tears the body of Christ. 

Stoiighton : By soldiers too. 
As first it was. 

IVilson : Sir, much it grieves me now 

That I am called in question, and of some. 
You see, well known as members of my flock. 
What wrong? or whom defrauded? or what crime 
Immoral, or as touching the spirit of Christ, 
Will these but bring against me, that this shame 
May have some cause, or title of defense? 
I took not to myself this honor, Sir : 
The lot was cast into the lap, the Lord 
Disposed. I am content to lay it down, 
These willing. 

Stoiighton and Hayncs: No. et not that be. 
Vane : But wait. 



SIR HARRY VANE 147 

Why, comrades, 'tis most strange ; and more, that 

this 
Outcry should come what time there is more need 
Of uniform compliance in the call 
To service, for the safety of your homes. 
Than for attacks in useless controversy. 
These whips of doctrine may each other lash, 
But cannot hurt our warlike common foe. 

First Soldier: We will not go. Sir, with this legalist. 

Second Soldier: We dare not walk in covenant of 
works, 
Else God would surely chasten sore our arms. 

(Cries of approval on part of others.) 

Wilson : Then, let me not go, Sir ; I am content. 

{Some object; others approve.) 

Cotton : It is as well. They are resolved. 

Vane: Well, men, 

I firmly think you are at wrong in this ; 
But, since a chaplain goes but for your good. 
Without your wish his duty could but fail. 
And he consents to stay. Will you have none? 

{Sonic call for another choice; more for none.) 



148 SIR HARRY VANE 

Stoughton: Sir, none could suit, if he suits not; 
let none 
Be sent. 

Haynes : I think it best. 

Vane: We best delay 
At least, such choice. — Furnish your men at once ; 
'Tis time you were embarking. 

Haynes: True. — (to bugler) "To arms." 

(The bugle sounds. Men excited; some angered, 
some sportive. One calls, "Hozv about the cove- 
nant of zvorks?" Another anszwrs, "It works 
well." Laughter. Exeunt Vane, Cotton, Stough- 
ton, and others.) 

Dudley: A wrong from which one good, we trust, 
may spring; 
Your help we wanted here — they give it us. 

Wilson : More ready, Dudley, for such part, am I 
Since this instruction. 

Haynes: This too teaches me 

Some further resolution. I have hoped, 
I see in some things quite against all hope; 
Henceforth, I would oppose that woman's word 
Relentlessly. Her harvest is the wind. 



SIR HARRY VANE 149 

Dudley : The whirlwind rather. Long these winds 
have moaned ; 
You slept upon them, now they waken fears. 

Wilson: You saw her in the crowd? 

Haynes: No, was she here? 

Wilson : Stood there, that side, and looked serenely 
on ; 
Delighted doubtless at this tempest-brew. 

Dudley : Some petrels of the storm outride it not. 
(Exeunt. Crowd is seen dispersing, follozving 
soldiers, to the right. Enter, from the left, Anne 
Hutchinson and Mrs. Coddington, followed by 
Jane Hawkins.) 

Mrs. Coddington: A most unjust reproach. 

Anne Hutchinson: It cannot touch 
The spirit of one free in grace. 

Mrs. Coddington : Oh, no. 

Anne Hutchinson: I nothing knew of this, nor 
thought they would 
Bear out my teaching so ; but that I taught 
Them this is clear. 

'Jane Hawkins: Oh, very clear. 



I50 SIR HARRY VANE 

Anne Hutchinson: What wrong 

Some truth may do, in setting things to rights, 
Is no part of one's care. My care is, God 
May purge, and thoroughly, His threshing-floor. 

Mrs. Coddington : I think He does. The fan is in 
His hand ; 
Our Fast Day may see more such winnowed chaff 
Upgathered by the wind. 

Anne Hutchinson: It hardly will, 

Unless their prayer is, "God be merciful 

To sinners," more than "thank-Thees" of our own 

Self-satisfied, though fasting, Pharisees. 

Jane Harcvkins: Oh, very clear; you teach so very 
clear. 

Mrs. Coddington: Be quiet, Jane. 

Jane Haz^'kins : Lord, hear the publican ! 

Anne Hutchinson: For me, I know not what they 
may devise 
To hurt us yet. The body, not the soul. 
Our worldly goods, and not our true Estate, 
Their angered palms may touch. But more I fear 
Lest somehow they deprive our noble Vane 
Of that brief power wherein our hopes now stand. 



SIR HARRY VANE 151 

Mrs, Coddington: We saved him once; he thought 
then to lay down 
His task; he now renews it with more hope, 
And ever brings the ardors of his soul 
To bear upon the coldness of the times. 
Anne Hutchinson: Most true, brave man.— But 
come. A ward comes there. 

Jane Hazvkins: Rejoice it be not chaplain Wilson 
come, 
To be your priest and hangman. 

Anne Hutchinson: Well now, Jane! 

{Exeunt.) 



ACT FOURTH. 

Scene H. The Same. Within the Aleeting House. 

{Congregation seen dispersing, amid confusion 
and disorder. From pulpit descends John Cot- 
ton. Near by, zvith bowed head, is seated John 
Wilson. Governor Vane, attended by Halber- 
diers, and certain Magistrates, are to the front of 
the pidpit. All but Wilson gather near, as Dud- 
ley addesses Wheelwright.) 

Dudley: Is this in keeping with our solemn Fast 
That vou should take advantage of this hour, 



152 SIR HARRY VANE 

And in his church, before his waiting flock, 
Rebuke our pastor Wilson ? God rebuke thee ! 

Wheehiright: These brethren bear me witness, that 
my words 
Were not in bitterness, nor spoken against 
The name of any. 

Dudley : Names may be withheld, 

And souls of honor not the less assailed. 

Wheehvright: I spoke in honor of our Saviour 
Christ, 
Whose Gospel ought not tremble on the tongue 
Of any, though to speak smoothe things might oft 
Best make for guilty peace. Your teacher gave 
Occasion for the message, Christ the word. 

Cotton: I thought it only meet that I should give 
To you, at close of my discourse, that right 
To exercise as private brothers may ; 
But little thought you would our holy Fast 
Turn to our worse confusion. 

Wheelwright : God forbid ! 

Dudley: "Forbid" is past: pray rather, God forgive 
Your rashness. Wheelwright ! — Here is Wilson, 
broken 

{Leads Wilson forward.) 



SIR HARRY VANE 153 

Beneath your words ; the hearts of all his people 
Made cold with doubt, he fears, lest he may walk 
In "covenant of works," your rankling term 
Of condemnation. Throw that term away. 
Whose venomed point outdoes the Indian's hurt; 
Else God will smite you with a sorer curse. 

Vane: Peace, Dudley, peace! Let Wilson rather 
say. 
I cannot see wherein our Wheelwright erred, 
Or who need smart unless his conscience prick. 

Wilson: Sir, I have ever exercised myself 
To have, as Paul declared, a conscience void 
Of all offense. Nor God nor man condemns, 
By witness of my conscience, any act. 
Yet, Sir, 'tis true the words of Wheelwright hurt, 
And deeply hurt, my spirit. Were it not 
For soothings of that grace which he denies. 
By implication, seals my covenant ; 
Or were not sufferance braver than revenge; 
He would not dare to voice so bold rebuke. 

Wheelwright : Those of that spirit boast not in your 
way. 

Vane (to Wilson) : If you have borne the seal you 
bear no guilt. 



154 SIR HARRY VANE 

Nor Wheelwright's words can harm. Yourself you 

wrong 
In turning to your heart an aHen arrow. 

Dudley: What did the people think? 

Vane: I know not that. 

Wilson : Had you sat wincing to their glance that 
told 
They knew whom Wheelwright marked, you well 
might know. 

Vane: Their glance the arrow then, your wincings 
turned 
It to your breast. 

Dudley : And, Sir, it may pierce yours ! 

Cotton: Hold! Let us all a kindly sufferance bear, 
Else we shall wholly lose the good we sought. 
Think how this day was meant for solemn prayer 
For His Estate that suffers much on earth. 
In Germany, His people languish yet ; 
In England too, where havoc oft is wrought 
By bishops, putting down the faithful men 
Who dare oppose their papist ceremonies. 
Their rites, their doctrines of the Romish way; 
And more throughout the earth, where famine, 
plague, 



SIR HARRY VANE 155 

And sword molest His scattered flock. And then 

Imminent dangers in Connecticut, 

And to ourselves, from Indian savagery; 

And such dissensions as we find at home, 

Within His church; call more for solemn prayer 

Than for these idle words. 

Dudley: But we would know — 

And Wheelwright best can answer, — Did he stand 

A Nathan of rebuke to Wilson here. 

And say, "Thou art the man," or, did he not? 

Wheelwright: I said not, sir, "Thou art the man," 
but said, 
This is the word of God: let those who must 
Find in it their rebuke. I care not who ; 
For if the trumpet give uncertain sound. 
Who can prepare for battle? 

Dudley: Wilson, come. — 

A Nathan without Nathan's courage ! — Come. 

{Exeunt Dudley mid Wilson:) 

Vcme: 'Tis plain what lash it is that stings. If yours, 
They could strike back; but Conscience turns no 
cheek. 

Cotton : It will not help us that they nurse a wrath. 
O brethren, these are times of need ; and yet 



156 SIR HARRY VANE 

Each step seems forward to confusion, not 

To peace. If Fast Days fail of help, where can 

We look for help, to save us from dismay? 

{Exeunt Cotton and others. There remain hut 
Vane, Wheelwright, and the Halberdiers, who 
stand removed. Enter, from the other side, Mrs. 
Coddington and Anne Hutchinson.) 

WheelwrigJit: I do regret that Cotton takes to heart 
My use of this occasion ; but to speak, 
With me meant to speak true, nor hide His counsel. 

Vane : Oh well, these men frame not irenicons 
So oft themselves. Good Cotton's speech is such; 
But Wilson fails, perforce, as peacemaker; 
And Dudley's only hope for certain peace 
Would be a symbol carved from granite. — Ah! 

{Observing the zvomen approach.) 

Are we detained by some committee still? 

Anne Hutchinson: No, we but come of our own 
choice ; nor now 
To ask some favor, but to render thanks 
For such good favor as we now enjoy. 
In having Wheelwright bravely to pronounce 
Our vital needs. And still to offer thanks 



SIR HARRY VANE 157 

For one such Vane, who stands as our defense 
UnfaiHng. 

Vane: A thanksgivmg, not a Fast, 
You make it; while but now, some weepers went 
Whose jeremiads led us to believe 
Sackcloth and ashes were the symbols yet 
Of pure religion. 

Anne Hutchinson: "Is it such a fast 

That I have chosen, — man to afflict his soul, 
To bow his head as bulrush, and to spread 
Sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou 
Call this a fast, acceptable to God? 
Is not this more the fast that I have chosen : 
To loose the bands of wickedness, undo 
The heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed 
Go free; and that ye break now every yoke? 
Then shall thy light break forth as morning, and 
Thine health shall speedily spring forth; and set 
Thy righteousness before thee, and the glory 
Of God shall be thy rereward." Such His word. 

Wheelwright: A better Fast Day sermon this than 
mine. 

Vane : I only wish a people wise to hear 

Might hear them. But it seems a prophet's voice 
Was ever to the disobedient. 



158 SIR HARRY VANE 

Anne Hutchinson: "Wisdom is of her children jus- 
tified." 

Mrs. Coddington: A feeble house; while tents of 
those are full 
Who know not wisdom, nor will hear her voice. 
Which, Sir, is reason for our anxious word. 
We fear the Court's provision next to meet 
At Newtown. Some see in that order. Sir, 
A quiet move to help those who desire 
Your re-election fail. Need we thus fear? 

Vane: I doubt not such their hope. Nor can I 
doubt 
Their hope is false. They base it on belief 
That Boston is more friendly to my choice 
Than are the provinces around. I think, 
Not so. Here is the seat of controversies. 
It cannot be, out of Jerusalem 
That even I may perish. I have gone 
Thro' my dominions, found the heartiest pledge 
Of their good will ; and though I did oppose 
This action of the Court, as quite unjust, 
I feel it will return to harry them. 

Mrs. Coddington : God grant it may ! 

Anne Hutchinson : "Or else, alas ! all we 

Around you, and that love your name, must say. 



SIR HARRY VANE 159 

How is the strong staff broken, and the rod 
Once beautiful in strength, and our support." 

Wheelwright: I fear not this. For what they once 
denied, 
He wishing, or had granted when they must, 
They will not take so rudely from his hand. 

Vane : No, Boston may bring less to my support, 
There gathered; but the law now first provides 
That votes by proxy shall have place, and this 
Will let such freemen as may not attend, 
Be present in support. A thing that serves 
Both sides alike indeed ; but, we fear not. 
The honor is but little ; but the task 
That I have taken, as I think, from God, 
Is great enough to urge my ardors on. 
He willing, I shall yet His standard bear 
To victory — a far one, and with pain. 

'Anne Hutchinson : Our hopes are ever with you, and 
His might 
Smite still the hand of each designing wrong! 

( Exeunt. ) 



i6o SIR HARRY VANE 

ACT FOURTH. 

Scene III. Newtown Common. 

(Month of May. Under a large spreading oaky 
many freemen are gathered. The Magistrates 
and Clergy gathered to the front. To the rear 
may he seen some horses tied. A few houses are 
visible. Vane, in English fashion, announces- 
the meeting called for the annual charter elec- 
tion. ) 

Vane : The voice of all the freemen is our seal 
Of liberty. These deputies, and these 
Our magistrates of Court, and clergy too, 
Defer their weightier matters to your vote. 
The charter so provides, and wisely. 

Coddington : Sir, 

In view of this, I ask that this appeal. 

Sent in from Boston, be at once received. 

Appeal it is from action of our Court, 

In case of Wheelwright, to the freemen's vote. 

Vane : Proceed. 

Winthrop : But, Sir, this cannot be. The day 
A special task presents, and to that work 
Precedence must be given. 



SIR HARRY VANE i6i 

Vane : Special task 

Will not be overlooked, nor need deprive 
Another special need of fitting care. — 
Proceed. 

Winthrop : Sir, I object. It is not meet 
To force the issue of an alien need 
Upon this hour. 

Vane: It is no alien need. 

When prayer of many of our citizens 

Demand we free the good name of their friend 

From imputations they regard as false. 

Winthrop : But, Sir, it well may wait more fitting 
time. 
To hear it now will call for such debate. 
And hue of passion, that it may perchance 
Quite interrupt the workings of this hour. 

Coddington: If justice for the cry of one oppressed 
Can interrupt the work of freemen, set 
Their passions so aflame as to permit 
No action but of rude and ruthless sort; 
Then this were well to know before we vote, 
That we may vote more wisely. Wheelwright 

stands 
Among us here, accused. He cannot use 



i62 SIR HARRY VANE 

His right of franchise till his name be cleared. 
This clearly holds precedence of all else. 

Dudley: If to inflame these men is work in hand, 
Their plan is model. But, to bring appeal 
That set the Court in uproar of debate 
In secret session, (where we found contempt 
And clear sedition standing to his charge), 

(Cries of "hear," "no," and "true.") 

To this more public hearing, that includes 
The deputies and magistrates who there 
Were gathered, is to spread that fire indeed. 
We, Sir, will not consent that this appeal 
Be hurled, a brand among us. 

Vane : Brand or no, 

His right is now in question, Boston sends 
Her fair request, these freemen are the Court 
For such appeal : Coddington may proceed. 

(Loud outcries against it. Groups of disputants 
begin to collect. Coddington begins, but is in- 
terrupted.) 

Wilson: No. never, Sir! This is a clear attempt 
To override the Court, where they have failed 
To see their wishes carry. Freemen, hear ! 
Will you permit to foist their issue now? 



SIR HARRY VANE 163 

{Cries of "no," and "hear it." Disorder in- 
creases. Vane seeks to quiet them, but fadls.) 

Cotton: This, Sir, is most unfortunate.— Hear, hear! 
'Twere better to have heard this their appeal 
Than worst the hour with such unseemly waste. 
—But, Sir, they will not hear. That we may see ; 
Let pass, at least until the session's close. 

(Again, opposing cries. Some heated disputes 
are to be seen; and angry zvords pass, among the 
company. In the tumoil Wilson seems much 
excited, and clambers up against the trunk of the 
oak. 
Vane {amid disorder) : If others will prove recreant 
to the call 
For justice, here sent up; browbeat the hour 
With tactics of defeat ; I still must hold 
My faith unshaken by such clamorous throng. 
Wheelwright, accused of treason and contempt, 
Is yet most civil of this frantic mob. 

Disorder increasing, but quiets a little as Wilson 
begins to address the company.) 

Wilson {from the oak) : Hear, brethren, freemen, 
hear ! 
— Look you, how strange 
Are these proceedings, that the vote of one 



i64 SIR HARRY VANE 

Who stands convicted of seditious speech, 
And in contempt, should be adjudged of these 
Who want election, needful to your choice ! 

(Great uproar again.) 

Vane : No more ! We will not hear — 

Wilson : You must ! 

Others : Go on ! 

(Cries of "hear," "Go on," "He has the iloor," 
" — the tree!" Vane seeks again to check the 
disorder, hut cannot. Amid it all, some taunt 
Wheekvright zvith "sedition," "Fast Day trea- 
son," etc. He stands calm.) 

Wilson: Look to your charter, freemen! And be- 
ware. 
How this election which it so provides 
Be not frustrated, and to private ends 
Constrained. — Look to your charter! Does it give 
Them warrant here to bring their grievances. 
And interpose them to our present work? 
Is Wheelwright's case your care? came you so far 
To rescue him from his embarrassment? 
The Court will see to that. Choose you the Court! 
In their contempt he stands. You want his vote? 
The charter calls for no seditious vote. 



SIR HARRY VANE 165 

Let him beware ! 

(In the tumult, one ebukes Wheelwright and 
strikes him. Some restrain, others urge on.) 

Vane : Let you beware ! — That man, 

Let someone seize! — (to Halberdiers) Here, you 
protect him. — Shame ! 

What ribaldry! — (to Wilson) Yea, what sedition, 
you 

Inspire, who falsely blame another. 

(The Halberdiers, not zvithout resistance and 
ridicnlet protect Wheelwright. Disorder con- 
tinues. ) 

Wilson : No ! 

I share no blame. This scene you must inspire. 

— Hear, freemen, hear ! Forget not how this hour 

Is passing. Pray, let not the afternoon 

Divest you of yx)ur charter-right.. Will you 

Choose first you magistrates? 

(Cries of "Yes," and ''Election," from many.) 

Vane: Choose nothing, till 
You first choose some decorum. 

Dudley : Come to vote : 

Attend their cry, if you would quiet this. 
(Renewed cries of "Election." Great uproar.) 



i66 SIR HARRY VANE 

Vane : The vote of wild men ? No ! I never will. 

Winthrop : Confide it to their choice. If they will 
vote, 
Then vote ; if hear th' appeal, we are content. 

Vane: You have inflamed them, that they can do 
neither. 
Let them howl on ; I will not call the vote. 

Winthrop (advancing) : Then, freemen, hear! 'Tis 
you can best decide. (Quiets down.) 

Such scenes are useless : let your vote prevail. 

If Vane refuse, then I as Deputy, 

Ask, Shall we first proceed to the election? 

(A demonstrative, and overzvhelming, response 
is given in favor of the election.) 

— Well, Sir, their wish is clear. — You must proceed. 

Vane (deeply moved) : Their wish is clear. And 
clear it is, their wish 
Is born of passion, nourished by such scenes 
As ill become a body of such men. 
— Now, hear me. We are falsely held to urge 
Upon you an appeal for private ends. 
Why, men, forsooth ! God grant the little gain 
Of such a turn, or of your franchise now. 
May not so blind me to what nerves a soul, 



SIR HARRY VANE 167 

That I may ever make so vile a play 

To passions of the mob, as here was seen. 

(Slight renewal of disorder.) 

Enact you what you will. We thought to serve 
That love of brethren, which as men of Christ, 
Would seem a fitting spirit, learned of Him. 
Let passion still corrode : we dare to trust 
The acid of our human bitterness 
Eats not the Golden Rule. — If such appeal 
Suit not your spirit now ; or, if the time 
Forbid, that priest and Levite need pass on : 
'Tis yours to have it so. 

Winthrop : Then, come to vote. 

Vane (impatiently) : Present it, if you must. You 
put the first. 

Winthrop : If you will not go on, then. Sir, without 
you 
We will proceed. The time brooks no delay. 

Vane: The voting shall proceed (to Secretary.) 
Let those be called 
Who are provided for the canvass. 
(They are duly called, and proceed zvith work.) 
— Our General Court, as all indeed will know, 



i68 SIR HARRY VANE 

Comprises two and thirty deputies, 
Who serve the fourteen towns they represent, 
And are of them elected; magistrates, 
Eleven now, and chosen by these freemen, 
Who represent our Colony at large. 
The Officers of the Court, as Governor, 
And Deputy, who may serve in our stead; 
Secretary, and Treasurer, who still 
Have onerous parts, and need our honor more ; 
Are items of your suffrage. You will vote 
First for these Officers of Court, and then 
For magistrates of same, by custom known 
To all. With haste and quiet now proceed. 

(The votes are taken. When gathered, they are 
taken to the Secretary's table, zuhich has been 
removed to the rear, where he imth his assistants 
proceed quietly to count them.) 

Bcllingham : A simple scene we now enact, but still 
A greater than it seems. To have it so, 
Cost much in treasure our forefathers' veins 
Enclosed, — as our more recent anguish, too. 
'Tis well our thought should harbor close in this. 

Winthrop : Well mentioned. Sir ; and let me urge it 
more. 
While time permits, upon our quiet thoughts. 
•Of English blood, our minds may well revert 



SIR HARRY VANE 169 

To such like scenes from whence our freedom 

sprang. 
It was the freeman, or that "free-necked" man, 
Whose long hair graced a neck bowed to no lord. 
That first met in such village moots. And there, 
At moot-hill, or the sacred tree, in truth, 
They sought out justice, laws, and justicers 
Who should their laws defend. And there, we 

read. 
Their priests waved hand for silence, ealdormen 
Resolved their weighty counsels, groups of freemen 
Stood round, shook spears to give their bold assent. 
Or with their clashing shields lent loud applause, 
And with their cries of yea or nay they ruled. 
Such simple forms grew to their Parliament, 
Grown great with time, yet greatest when it still 
Reveals a sturdy faith in simple forms. 
We seek not to bring in their pomp and pride. 
Content if we our common good retrieve. 
They in some measure lost. Under due form 
Of government both civil and of church. 
We here would rest, though brought in anguish 

hither. 
For true it is, we have not gained this hour 
Without due cost. Each band of pilgrims paid 
Their price, we ours. But yesterday we saw 
Two and a hundred souls, crossing rough seas, 



170 SIR HARRY VANE 

Sow in December's cold and barren soil, 
With many yearnings, yea with bleeding hearts, 
The seed God's springtime now lets issue forth: 
What may His summers bring! We can but hope,. 
Toil on, and leave the glory unto Him. (Ap- 
plause.) 

Vane: Such words are tonic, and become the hour 
As choosing men to carry on that toil. 
I trust they serve no less as antidote 
To some envenomed thrusts, unseemly lent 
To mar the scene. And I would add some word; 
For in our Winthrop's timid speech he left 
Unspoken, how his own heroic care 
Has wrought, thro' wise and much painstaking toil, 
A planting for our Massachusetts Bay 
Not less renowned than theirs of Plymouth there. 
The work is one, our toil, our prayers are one ; 
Our disagreements strive to serve that one 
Ideal of common good and valiant faith, 
For which our fathers and ourselves have wrought. 
The words of Sidney I recall, which some 
Have thought should be our seal, — the more 
Since now the Indian cries from sanguine thirst. 
And not as suiting byword you have lent him. 
Sidney's are, Ense petit placidam 
Sub Jibertafe quietam. No sword 



SIR HARRY VANE 171 

Has glory, save it strike for liberty. 

Ours then unsheathe, rough-grind it still for this. 

— But, back to work in hand. The vote is ready. 
(Applause follows Vane's words, as enter the 
Secretary and his Assistants. Excitement.) 

— And since among the magistrates whom next 

You are to choose, these names must stand, 

Elected for your Officers of Court, 

Their names we first will hear. 

Secretary : Their names alone ? 

Vane: Sufficient for the present, — not the vote. 

Secretary: Sir, those elected, by count of all ballots 
cast, and of proxies furnished and in hand, are 
as follows: Governor, John Winthrop; {E.vcite- 
ment and applause) Deputy, Thomas Dudley; 
Secretary, Increase Nowell; Treasurer, William 
Dummer. 

(The friends of Vane shozv keen disappointment. 
Much excitement among the opposition. Wilson 
is seen to he especially demonstrative, and seek- 
ing to descend from the oak, where he has mean- 
while been seated, by a mishap is seen to rend his 
coat. A laughter results. Still holding to a 
hough,- he looks to Vane, and cries out: 



172 SIR HARRY VANE 

Wilson : See Samuel's mantle, how its skirt is rent : 
Even so thy kingdom, Saul ! 

(Renewed laughter. Some rebuke Wilson. 
Winthrop is observed to deprecate teh demonstra- 
tion. Gradually order returns.) 

Vane : Let now the vote for magistrates proceed. 

(The vote is taken as before. While the count is 
in progress, Winthrop is called.) 

Winthrop : More rich in gratitude than fitting words 
Of thanks, believe me : else were poor indeed. 
You have bestowed me that I did not covet, 
And in return my ease of mind exact. 
What honor but walks hand in hand with care ? 
So much is forfeit : still the path to power, 
Little or great, is one few will resist ; 
And if it be in service for the state, 
Or Saviour's kingdom, by some talent's gift, 
Is one no votary of highest gain 
Ought wish deny. — This honor I enjoyed 
Five years, with your approval; at your call, 
I laid it down. Now that I take again, 
I ask that with your suffrage there may come 
That reunited and retrieved support 
Our Colony most needs, if it attain 
A just supremacy of civil peace. 
— My gratitude is mingled with regret 



SIR HARRY VANE 173 

That my advancement is another's loss ; 
And in his loss, our own. We, Sir, at times 
Have disagreed ; but, as your speech declared, 
Our disagreements hold a common goal. 
The care I gain, you lose ; yet, of my gains, 
I wish none greater than your true support. 
— Again, my thanks; and evermore, your prayer, 
(Winthrop's words are heartily received. Yet 
some withhold applause. Vane is unmoved.) 
Coddington: A much united and confirmed support 

Is truly no past blessing ; nor now seems 

So near as to inspire a laggard step. 

What stumbling-stone removed, what barrier down. 

That we may march unhindered. Is there one? 

(Cries of "no," "yes," and "to-day." 

— You think, to take the scepter from the hand 
Of one who most restrained your mad attacks 
On those whose faiths and fortunes you conspire 
To ruin, is a means to peace! Beware! {Excite- 
ment.) 
You do this in the dark. For now we know 
What led the Court to choose a place remote 
For this election. Boston is not here. 
Save few. Her people are with Vane, as all 
The commoners, who fairness love and right. 



174 ^IR HARRY VANE 

You do not represent them. And this Court 

You choose, must there convene. I say, Take heed! 

You will not find them wanting in rebuke. 

Is this your policy? Are you to drive, 

To banish, all who shall your ways oppose? 

If so, a fair beginning you have made. 

But yours the loss, not theirs ; and you will be 

Like Ezra at Ahava — dearth of men 

Appalled him ; you it will appall the more. 

(Uproar again. Cries of "shame," and "hear.") 

Dudley: What shame indeed, and double shame, 

alas ! 
That Winthrop's kindly words should so be lost 
In outburst like to this ! Faithless rebuke ! 
These men are freemen : choose they whom they 

will; 
And Boston must abide the choice they make. 
We meet removed, 'tis said, — lest we be swayed 
To other choice. What then? Should they direct 
Who have no vote? Are they more wise than we 
To choose, who have their choice reposed with us? 
This Court, we grant, knows something how that 

mob 
Would vote our each enactment to their wish. 
But, God be thanked, we vote this to our own ; 
And will hereafter, if the Court you choose 



SIR HARRY VANE 175 

Is of like carriage, — bowing not to Baal. 

Bcllingham: If all is Baal that wins our Dudley's 
hate, 
Baal's temple fills the earth; and knees are rare 
That bow not to his glory. 
Dudley : Much too rare ; 

But names of more we trust now to receive. 

(Applause. Re-enter the Secretary and his As 
sistants zmth the vote. All press near.) 

Vane: If all is ready, the Secretary will read. 

Secretary: Sir, those elected to be Magistrates of 
Court, upon count of all ballots and proxies, are 
as follows: First four, The Officers of Court 
already announced ; the other seven, duly chosen, 
are these: Rev. John Cotton, Atherton Haugh, 
Thomas Leverett, Zachariah Symmes, Thomas 
Oliver, William Jennison, and William Colburn. 
(On observing that the names of Vane, Codding- 
ton, and Bellingham do not appear among the 
Magistrates, there is to he seen on the part of 
their friends keen resentment and dismay, while 
.the demonstration of the opposite party is 
marked. 

Vane : We will await your pleasure. 

A Freeman : The appeal ! 



176 SIR HARRY VANE 

Coddington: To what tribunal? Surely not to this,. 
That moves in mockery ; but more to Him 
"Whose judgment is man's destiny, and will 
Make manifest the counsels of their hearts," 
Paul's word of best rebuke to such, 

Winthrop : Let peace 
Attend us, brethren. These have done their work 
For which the day was called, and some have far 
To journey : let them now depart. 

Vane: If such 
Their will, their show of hands will tell. — 'Tis so. 
( Upon vote, they are adjourned. Groups gather 
in excited comment; ivhile some are seen at once 
departing. ) 



ACT FOURTH. 

Scene IV. Boston. Before Vane's House. 

{Enter Bellingham and a Citisen, meeting.) 

Citizen : Good Richard, hail ! You are the calmest 
yet 

Of all in Boston I have seen. 

Bellingham : Indeed ? 



SIR HARRY VANE 177 

If I am calm, 'tis that my fires have burned 
Quite out, and leave but ashes of regret. 

Citizen : Oh, no ; some gold, I hope. 

Bellingham : All seems but dross ; 

Or else my gold is filched; — and it is filched 
If Vane be lost to us. 

Citisen: What could they mean? 

Bellingham : What they have ever meant, and found 
but now 
Means to attain. 

Citizen: 'Twas not unlooked for. 

Bellingham : No ; 

'Twas rather much what we should most expect; 

Is ever so. To-day my thought has turned 

To life of Him whose path we trust to follow, 

And yet a path of such returns of loss. 

One incident I much recall ; its lines. 

Caught up in verse, last night beat thro' my sleep, — 

After such day as yesterday to Vane 

Recalled it from the Life that models all. 

Citizen: Pray, come repeat it. 

Bellingham : Sit we here, I will. 

{Repeats.) 



178 SIR HARRY VANE 

To the brow of a hill, 

By ancient Nazareth, 
Where the winds to the crags shrilled forth a wail 

To pierce man's heart, 
Came a throng, with rage as the swelling flood. 
In wrath which ill-will could alone impart, 

(As their temples in darkness stood), 
To cast, with a cry of "You lose" and "You fail," 

The Man of Nazareth 

From the brow of the hill. 

Citizen : How true again ! His word, "It is enough 
That my disciple shall be as his Lord." 
Comes once again to view. 

Bellingham : And somehow we. 

Helped by His providence, may yet escape, 
As of His power He from their hands did then. 

Citizen: Let that be true, indeed. — Good friends 
come here. 

{Enter Aspinwall and another Citizen.^ 

Aspinwall: Is this your juniper? Good news will 
help. 

Bellingham : It will ; though we were not despairing 
quite. 



SIR HARRY VANE 179 

Aspinwall: Well, Boston makes amends; and lets 
the Court 
Feel much her strong resentment. For our choice 
Of delegates, deferred till we should know 
What yesterday availed, turns to our good. 

Bellingham : What way ? 

Aspinwall: We met and chose, — our solid wish, — 
As Boston's delegates to Court, you three 
Whom they had thought to leave without due place. 

Bellingham : Indeed, so soon ? 

Second Citisen: And none too soon, or else 
The town had been in uproar that had made 
The Court to wish again for Newtown's green. 

Bellingham: Well, Vane must know. 

Aspinwall : We are sent to inform, 

And must. — But, good, he now appears. 

Bellingham : Indeed. 

(Enter Vane, from the house.) 

First Citizen {to Bellingham) : Your prophecy comes 
true. 

Bellingham : We had dared say 

Their evil hand might not avail. — Come, Vane. 



i8o SIR HARRY VANE 

Vane: Good greeting, friends. Committee of con- 
solations ? 

BelUngham : Oh, no ; or if — 'tis these who may con- 
sole. 

Aspinwall: We trust it helps to know our freemen 
chose 
Yourself, and Bellingham, and Coddington, 
As Boston's delegates to Court. 

Vane: Chose when? 

Aspinwall: Just now. 

Bellingham : 'Tis true, they've met and made their 
choice. 
And bring us word so soon. 

Vane: They have outrun 

My expectation, though I was informed 
Such purpose was on foot. They give the Court 
Brief time to chuckle in their glee, at how 
Our opposition would be wanting. 

Bellingham : True. 

Vane : I had been ready, of my private wish. 
To quit the work, the scene. My other cares 
Invited, as you know. Long since indeed. 
Had they directed, or my wish of heart, 



SIR HARRY VANE i8i 

I had forsook this path I yet pursue. 

But when I reached conviction, wanting long, 

That I ought stem the current of their wish 

To be slave-barons of free speech or lime 

The Ariel-spirit of fair truth, (whose song 

Should cheer this new world's morning, while our 

work 
Goes on, for good of state, or of His church) ; 
I was most willing to forget my needs. 
And give myself free-handed to that care. 
The office was small part, though with its loss 
I feel there went along a prestige too 
That more could help; yet, friends, I bate no part 
Of my endeavor to bear on against 
The tide, nor shall till my release is come 
From Him who lent conviction, and yet nerves. ' 
My vote, my voice, as deputy, is still 
What first it was as magistrate of honor, 
What then as Governor. I shall bear on; 
And Bellingham will too, and Coddington, 
I will not doubt. 

Bellingham : Indeed ; you nerve my wish. 

And strengthen all with courage of your faith. 

Aspinwall; And we of lesser gift shall not despair. 
Nor napkin yet our talents, though but one. 



i82 SIR HARRY VANE 

Vane: Good word. The ones when multiplied, are 
more 
Than tens, our Lord has wisely made so rare. 
— Does Coddington know this? 

Second Citizen: Ere this he does, 
For one was sent to tell him. 

Aspinwall : Dudley too ! 

Vane: They are no doubt devising other things; 
And this may come unwelcome. When they meet 
To-morrow in provision for such change 
As yesterday has brought, they can resolve 
Their course. Meanwhile, good Bellingham, come 

you,— 
Let us find Coddington, and speak with him. 

Bellingham : True, Sir, we ought. 

Vane : If these will grant us leave. 

{Exeunt.) 



SIR HARRY VANE 183 

ACT FOURTH. 

Scene V. The Governor's Room at Court. 

(Presents Winthrop, Dudley, Wilson, Nowell.) 

Wilson: And the sergeants and halberdiers flatly 
refused you the accustomed service? 

Winthrop: Yes, upon Mr. Vane's defeat, they laid 
down their halberds and went home. I, thinking 
perhaps they awaited some more special invita- 
tion to continue their service, sent them word to 
that effect. But they resolutely refused all en- 
treaties, and, as if piqued by their own defeat, 
sent back scant show of courtesy. 

Nowell: Others could be provided? 

Winthrop: I know not where to select. The action 
of these shows but a feeling which others share. 

Wilson: Could they not be had from our neighbor- 
ing towns, in turn? 

Winthrop : Perhaps. Or, if need be, I can supply 
my own servants. And, as for any wish of mine, 
they can be omitted. 

Dudley: Surely, just as well. What are they? — 
servants, true, in part; but more, in Vane's use 



i84 SIR HARRY VANE 

doubtless, as lending to some display we care not 
for. 

Wilson: If only it cause not such comment and 
scandal, as we would wish to avoid. 

{Enter a Messenger.) 

Winthrop : Well now ? 

Messenger: Upon hearing that the Court had pro- 
nounced their action of yesterday an affront, and 
regarded as undue their choice of the defeated 
candidates as our delegates to Court, upon 
grounds that two of our freemen had not been 
notified ; they proceeded at once to a private and 
particular warning from house to house, and have 
now gathered to reconsider, or to reaffirm, their 
choice of yesterday. 

Winthrop : They are commendable for haste. 

Wilson : How contumacious they are ! They will, 
no question, return the same three. 

Dudley : What a waspish lot indeed ! If they can- 
not understand and accept such a rebuke from 
this Court as we sent them, they are a sorry 
crowd with which to deal. Are we ever to be 
harried by them? We ought refuse their choice. 



SIR HARRY VANE 185 

Winthrop : If they reaffirm that choice, with all free- 
men present or notified, it is indeed a regrettable 
action, that cannot make for harmony or good 
will ; but, brethren, I see not how we can do other 
than accept their choice. And this we shall need 
do. 

Messenger : You shall hear soon ; for one is waiting 
to bring you word. 

Winthrop : Good. — But, we are fortunate in these 
early provisions, and more especially in having 
determined that her trial shall be at Newtown. 

Wilson : Indeed ; and however unacceptable to us 
their choice may be, it must not interfere with 
this work in hand. Our Mistress Anne must be 
tried, as also Wheelwright sent on. 

Dudley: Oh, these can well be; for our majority is 
now clearly against them. Only, we have had 
enough of their sanctimonious rebukes, — all too 
much of that bitterness which their opposition in- 
spires. With Vane to her defense, we shall 
suffer tirade and philippic, and she too will be 
nerved to a stronger defense. It is our loss, but 
we must none the less get from it great gain. 

(Enter a second Messenger.) 



i86 SIR HARRY VANE 

Wilson : Word comes now. 

Winthrop : They have returned the same ? 

Second Messenger: Indeed; and would a thousand 
times, they say. Whatever rebuke you give, they 
doubly return. 

Winthrop : Let pass. We will not please them with 
resisting. 

Wilson : No ; we can hardly have all to our liking, 
and we have much. — Now as to our method of 
procedure ? 

( Exeunt Messengers. ) 

Dudley : Well, haste is best. As for Wheelwright, 
all that is needed is a formal sentence, and strict 
enforcement thereof. For Mistress Hutchmson, 
now that earliest time and best place are chosen, 
there is but needed that the charges shall be for- 
mally drawn, the accused summoned, the clergy 
and other witnesses called. Mr. Nowell will 
properly forward the notices. Captain Greensmith 
summon the accused, and, as I believe, Mr. Win- 
throp should best draw up the accusations. 

Wilson: Indeed, none better. 



SIR HARRY VANE 187 

Winthrop : It is a work not to my liking ; and only 
as you may consent to lend your hand and wits, 
could I agree. 

Wilson : That gladly. 

Dudley : No task more grateful. 

Winthrop: Many easier; for you will not find 
charges that will read so well as to our ears they 
seem. 

Nowell : I am thinking that. Still, our help is yours. 

Dudley : Our Court will not be so choice of taste. — 
But, think it over. We shall confer again. 
{Exeunt Dudley, Wilson, Nowell. Winthrop 
turns to some secretarial work, as enter Vane.) 

Vane: May I intrude? 

Winthrop : Well, — Vane ! One welcome comes 
Without intrusion. 

Vane: I am one intrudes. 

Since when I first set foot upon these shores. 
— Not that I doubt your welcome ; — but there are 
Who held and hold your alien law at odds 
Of envious wish, to make my saying true. 

Winthrop : 'Tis bitterness to me that so they think. 
For none has come to us that I more felt 



i88 SIR HARRY VANE 

Was come a blessing; and what ills have come 
To set a breach between you and the Court, 
Have been my weightiest care. How rather far 
Would I that still you held this trust, if peace 
Could so attend, than it should turn to me. 

Vane: Pray, do not think of that. I wish it not. 
At best, 'twere little, — save some honor, and 
The better hope of helping honor thrive; 
At worst, where such expectancy is void, 
'Tis nothing. It lies not in my regrets. 

Winthrop : I learn you will be with us ; and your 
hope 
Of still enforcing your belief yet serves. 

Vane: To represent the Colony or town. 
To serve in high or in some lowly sphere, 
With blame of many, or with praise of all. 
Is one with those who serve ho cause but truth. 
And wish no greater honor than our God's. 
Here I shall serve, and with no slackened zeal. 

Winthrop : Your words are fair ; I must commend 
them. Yet, 
I trust your best wish will not cope with mine, — 
To clear these envies from our Court, and turn 
Our paths again to peace. 'Tis all I ask. 



SIR HARRY VANE 189 

Vane: 'Tis all. I sought no more, found less; and 
see 
Still less in prospect. 

Winthrop : Vane ! What is your wish ? 

Vane: As yours, for peace. But, Winthrop, not at 
price 
That lets pure gold go for a tinseled show. 
Each payment thus far made exceeded much 
The whole of gain, if peace should haply come 
On many payments, as it never will. 
But — this recalls me, — and we need not urge 
Thoughts that will not agree. I came to bring 
A letter just in hand, that comes too late 
For me to hold ; and I will give it you. 

(Handing him a letter.) 

— 'Tis from one enemy we sent away 
Who helps to bring, I grant, some peace ; and such 
As well adorns the Golden Rule of Christ, — 
Which we to him denied, and still deny. 

Winthrop : From Williams, true. What word ? 

Vane : Upon request, — 

When our worst fear was lest the Pequots might 
Win to their cause the Narragansett chiefs, — 
I wrote to Williams, sent the word with haste, 



I90 SIR HARRY VANE 

That he would use what speedy care he could 

To seek a mediation, and prevent 

Their coalition. This, as you will see, 

He, at the hazard of his life, effects ; 

And gives a blessing- where we gave a curse. 
Winthrop : Truly a noble act, and merits praise. 
(reads) " — At your desire, I went and gladly. 
Shipping myself alone, in a poor canoe, I has- 
tened to the house of the sachem of the Narra- 
gansetts. The journey set me every moment in 
peril of life, from the winds and the high seas. 
At last, reaching the house of Miantonomoh, I 
found the Pequot ambassadors, and the barbarous 
chiefs of the Mohicans, already there. For three 
days and nights, we went over carefully the busi- 
ness in hand. Meanwhile I was compelled to 
lodge and mix with them, in their rude com- 
panionships, though the Pequots were already 
reeking with the blood which they had freshly 
spilled. I therefore had cause every night to 
expect their knives at my throat. But the good 
hand of our God was upon me for good; and, 
though the Narragansetts were long wavering, 
and the chiefs of the Pequots most solicitous, I 
succeeded in dissolving the conspiracy, and re- 
ceived every assurance and pledge that the Pe- 
quots were to continue the struggle alone. To 



SIR HARRY VANE 191 

this their own chiefs at last consented. I am re- 
turned again safely from their hands, etc." — We 
are rebuked. 

Vane: Such spirits you cast out, 
As once your Lord cast devils. 

Winthrop : Coals of fire 

He showers, by such a kindness. We have won 
Our struggle with the Pequots by his hand. 
If this be true ! 

Vane : All true, — a deed deserves 
The highest meed of honor ; and well points 
The moral now at issue. — Would you dare 
Revoke the ban against him, and recall 
Such hero ; that the love which conquered these 
But savage hearts, might find at least response 
In praise among us? 

Winthrop: Vane, I gladly would 

If that might be. But I am not a king 

To say, "This shall be," or "This thing shall not;" 

And here they must decide who most of power 

Possess. 

Vane: Oh, Winthrop, 'tis enough! No morel 
The most of power you have, the alien law 
To keep that most of power within your hands. 



192 SIR HARRY VANE 

No kingly claim exceeds it. And the end 

Is all, as helping most of power, — the means 

Are sanctified in this. Vienna's courts 

Ne'er showed me priestlier power. — Let's no more ! 

Excuse abruptness. 'Tis enough to know 

Our line of cleavage, — and — your heart is right: 

You would be with us, if the most of power 

Were with us, and your value lessened so. 

But we — "Fear not, O little flock," still cheers 

Us on. Each side earth's seas the same, — the few 

Who care for right, though clothed with little 

power, 
Must bear the brunt. We can. — The next to share 

(Accepting the letter again.) 

A hero's part is one they hate the more? 

Winthrop : May be. — 'Tis true, our thoughts are not 
akin ; 
Though I much hope our hearts are one. I seek 
To build, as suiting a new land ; while you. 
More suiting old, think only of reform. 

Vane: Reform is surgery that healthy growth. 
Best training for new lands, would needless make. 
— And think not, Winthrop, since the soil is new, 
All harvests will be clean. Unsifted seed 
Is sown ; new harvests, like the old, now show 



SIR HARRY VANE 193 

Your wheat and tares are both of ranker growth. 
Winthrop : In that we differ. 
Vane: And in much. — Farewell. 
{Exeunt.) 

ACT FOURTH. 

Scene VI. Newtown. 

{Within the Meeting House. A small, rude frame 
building, of hezun hoards. The crevices are filled 
with mud. Rude wooden benches. Table, and 
chairs for the Governor and Magistrates. The 
deputies seated on front rozv of benches. Behind 
them, a well filled house of eager listeners. 
Many of the clergy are present, at the front. 
Before the Governor, Anne Hutchinson, seated. 
To her right, Vane.) 

Winthrop : Let the examination now proceed. Hith- 
erto our progress is but slow; but henceforth, let 
there be no delay; for we wish this not to be weari- 
some to any, nor lengthened beyond what is seemly 
and meet. The accused is before us, convented for 
traducing our ministers and their ministry. We 
have seen how she has been the breeder and nour- 



194 ^IR HARRY VANE 

isher of our distempers ; how she has long been 
holding meetings at her house, a thing not tolerable 
nor comely in the sight of God nor fitting for her 
sex; and how she has ever justified Mr. Wheel- 
wright's Fast Day sermon, which we have already 
found to be seditious, and for which you have now 
set upon him a just decree of banishment; and fur- 
ther how she justified and furthered the Boston 
petition. 

Now to proceed. We contend that the accused 
has transgressed that law of God which commands 
to honor father and mother, since the magistrates 
are the fathers of the commonwealth. Do you not 
think, Mistress Hutchinson, that in adhering to 
those who signed the petition, even though you 
did not yourself sign it, you did so dishonor the 
magistrates as to be justly punishable? 

Anne Hutchinson: I do acknowledge no such thing; 
neither do I think that I ever put any dishonor 
upon you. 

Winthrop : We would wish to know by what author- 
ity the accused has ever held these public meetings, 
from which all these troubles have arisen? 

Anne Hutchinson: Partly because of similar usage 
which I found prevailing in Boston when I came ; 
and more, because of that Scriptural rule, in the 



SIR HARRY VANE 195 

second chapter of Titus, that the elder women shall 
instruct the younger. 

Winthrop : You know there is no rule of Scripture 
which crosses another ; but this rule, as you apply 
it, crosses that in the Corinthians, where the women 
are expressly commanded not to teach. You must 
therefore take the rule in Titus in this sense, that 
the elder women must instruct the younger about 
their business, and to love their husbands, and not 
to make them to clash. 

Anne Hutchinson: I do not conceive but that it is 
meant also for more public times. 

Winthrop : Well, can you say no more than this ? 

Anne Hutchinson: I have said sufficient for my 
practice. 

Winthrop : Your course is not to be suffered. It 
is greatly prejudicial to the state, and disrespectful 
to the ministers. 

Anne Hutchinson: Sir, I do not believe this to be so. 

Winthrop : Well, we see how it is. We must there- 
fore put it away from you. 

Anne Hutchinson : If you have a rule for it from 
God's Word, you may. 



196 SIR HARRY VANE 

Winthrop: We are your judges, and not you ours; 
and we must compel you to it. 

Anne Hutchinson: If it please you by authority to 
put it down, I will freely let you. I am in your 
power. 

Vane {interrupting) : Sir, some of these ministers 
who have themselves been silenced by English pre- 
lates will understand. 

Peters: For no such unwarranted rule of practice 
were we there silenced. 

Vane: To those prelates, so. 

Winthrop : Quiet ! — Let us come to a more explicit 
charge. It is reported that you have publicly said 
that Mr. Cotton alone of the ministers preached a 
covenant of grace ; the others a covenant of works, 
as not being able ministers of the New Testament. 
Do you acknowledge yourself to have said these 
things ? 

Anne Hutchinson: I desire to be pardoned from 
answering a question that has to do only with my 
personal likes. 

Winthrop : It is well discerned by the Court that 
Mistress Hutchinson can tell when to speak and 



SIR HARRY VANE 197 

when to hold her tongue. Upon the answering of 
a question which we desire her to tell her thoughts 
of, she desires to be pardoned ! 

{Murmurs of derisive laughter, from Court.) 

Anne Hutchinson : It is one thing to speak in the 
way of friendship privately, of what is my belief 
of any one's preaching; and another thing for me 
to come before a public magistracy, and there make 
a charge such as you are accusing me for having 
publicly made. There is a difference in that. 

Winthrop : Very well. If you are not to answer, 
we shall call witnesses to find whether such charges 
have been publicly made. Will Mr. Peters an- 
swer? — You were present at a conference in last 
December, at which certain of our ministers sought 
an exchange of views with the accused? 

Peters: I was. 

Winthrop : Will you tell us what was said, as bear- 
ing upon the question in hand? 

Peters: There were present a number of ministers, 
among whom were Mr. Wilson, Mr. Weld, Mr. 
Cotton, Mr. Wheelwright, and myself. Mistress 
Hutchinson, being summoned, I urged her to ex- 
plain why these brethren and myself were different 



198 SIR HARRY VANE 

from Mr. Cotton in our ministry, and why she so 
openly asserted that we taught a covenant of works. 
At first, she was disposed to deny what was 
charged. But when we offered proof, she recov- 
ered her audacity and exclaimed, "The fear of man 
is a snare : why should I be afraid ?" Then she as- 
serted there was a great difference between Mr. 
Cotton and the others of us, so much so indeed that 
we could not preach a covenant of grace, because 
we were not sealed, and were no more able minis- 
ters of the Gospel than were the disciples before the 
resurrection of Christ. Upon this, Mr. Cotton ob- 
jected to the comparison. But still she insisted. 
Then she instanced Mr. Shepard and Mr. Weld, 
and especially said of the former that he was not 
sealed. And when questioned why, she replied, 
"Because you put love for an evidence." Again, 
in reply to Mr. Phillips, she declared the same of 
his ministry. And pursuing this, we found in that 
day a double seal and a little seal — which never 
was ! And much more, of such drift ; but enough in 
answer. 

Winthrop : Does the accused deny all this ? 

Anne Hutchinson: I deny it not, save that the gath- 
ering was understood to be of a public nature. 



SIR HARRY VANE 199 

Winthrop : Do not these brethren all understand 
that it partook of the nature of a public hearing? 

Several : Yes. 

Wmthrop: Mr. Peters, Mr. Weld, Mr. Eliot, Mr. 
Symmes, and others agree that it was. How can 
you deny it? 

Anne Hutchinson: I did not so understand it; 
neither do I think that I was guilty of any open 
disparagement of their ministry; and, moreover, 
whatever was said was drawn from me in private 
discourse by those who are now seeking to perse- 
cute me for it. 

Winthrop: Attend her answer, how it the more ac- 
cuses them. — Did you not charge them with being 
under a covenant of works? 

Anne Hutchinson: I did nothing of the sort. It may 
be that I said they preached a covenant of works, 
as did the Apostles before the Ascension. But to 
preach a covenant of works, and to be under a 
covenant of works, are two different things. 

Winthrop : Did not you single out Mr. Cotton as 
the only one of all these men who was sealed with 
the seal of the Spirit, and therefore preaching a 
covenant of grace? 



200 SIR HARRY VANE 

Anne Hutchinson: Perhaps, in some private way. 

Winthrop : Which we think was more a pubHc way. 

Vane {interrupting): Indeed! But, if true: do you 
mean to make a mere preference which the accused 
may have as to whose preaching may most please 
her, a crime? Who is there of us who may not 
have such preference? These proceedings are 
shameless ! 

Dudley: We are examining the accused here, not 
Mr. Vane's opinions. 

Vane: God grant, some few may retain opinions yet 
worthy to bear an examination. 

Winthrop : Quiet ! — Let there be still other wit- 
nesses. Will Mr. Wilson tell us what is his recol- 
lection of that December conference? 

Anne Hutchinson (interrupting) : Sir, since I am 
to be judged by the testimony of these witnesses, 
I wish to ask that they may be sworn. Since the 
proceedings of that conference are in question, I 
desire to say that I have been looking over cer- 
tain notes which were taken at the time, and find 
some things not to be as have been alleged. Ac- 
cordingly, as the ministers are now testifying in 
their own cause, they should do so under oath. 



SIR HARRY VANE 201 

(Much excitement attends this request.) 

Dudley: Is this not new insult heaped upon these 
godly men? How dare she call in question their 
testimony? It is an outrage! 

Vane: If they speak truth, no oath can hurt them. 
Why then such ado? 

Winthrop: It would seem that the case not being 
one for a jury, the evidence need not be under oath. 

Coddington: Still, sir, in a cause exciting so much 
interest, sworn testimony would best satisfy the 
people. 

Winthrop : Unless she insist — 

Anne Hutchinson: I do insist. 

Peters: Why do you insist? 

Anne Hutchinson: An oath, sir, is an end of all 
strife ; and it is God's ordinance. 

Dudley : A sign it is what respect she has to the min- 
isters' words ! — Behold, how she lifted up her eyes, 
as if she took God to witness that she came not 
to entrap any, — and yet she will have them swear! 

Vane: You put the accused under oath, who here 
speaks in her defense ; now that the ministers, as 



202 SIR HARRY VANE 

she has said, are speaking for their cause, why 
should they also not be sworn? 

Winthrop : If all can be better satisfied by so doing, 
I am willing to administer the oath, if the elders 
will take it ; though indeed I can see no necessity 
for an oath in this thing, seeing it is true, and the 
substance of the matter confirmed by divers. — Are 
the elders content to be sworn? 

{All hut Cotton declare their unzidllingness.) 

— Then the accused must be content to continue 
as we are. 

Anne Hutchinson: I am content. God is my Judge, 
before whom we must all appear. 

Coddington : Let me suggest that the ministers shall 
all confer with Mr. Cotton before testifying; for 
in so doing any conflict of evidence may be avoided. 

Winthrop : Shall we not believe so many godly el- 
ders, in a cause wherein we know the mind of the 
accused without their testimony? 

Peters (to Coddington) : I will tell you what I say. 
I think this carriage of yours tends to further 
casting of dirt upon the faces of the judges. 



SIR HARRY VANE 203 

Dudley: Her carriage doth the same. For she doth 
not object an essential thing, but goes upon cir- 
cumstances, — and yet she would have them swear! 

BelUngham : I think if we will wait a little, Dudley 
will do it for them. 

{There is seen to he a sensation at the rear of 
the church. An outcry is made. It is discovered 
to he a serpent, which has crept into the hnilding. 
Certain men attack, and it is killed by one.) 

Winthrop : Let us have quiet again. — This has given 
some interruption ; yet perhaps the Lord would 
discover to us something of His mind in this. 

Wilson: Out of doubt, He does. What could be 
more clear than that in this the Devil is repre- 
sented by the serpent, and that it shows how his 
presence can so slyly enter the church of Christ; 
while Faith is represented by that member of 
His church who has crushed the head of the evil 
one? Indeed this is now the second time in which 
the Lord has so warned us. Only a few weeks 
ago there occured a great combat between a mouse 
and a serpent, in the view of divers witnesses, and 
then we were led to wonder; but agreed that the 
serpent there represented the Devil, while the 
mouse should represent a poor and contemptible 



204 ^^^ HARRY VANE 

people, which God had brought hither, which 
should overcome Satan here, and dispossess him of 
his kingdom. Perhaps, in this instance, there is 
yet more significance, that the serpent should have 
appeared at such time. The Lord would have 
us consider. 

Weld: Indeed. Who knows but that the serpent 
that first beguiled the woman, and brought upon us 
our ruin, may not in such an hour seek again, in 
like manner, to beguile us? 

Vane : What brazen effrontery ! so to parade such 
gratuitous interpretations of simple and harmless 
events ! Why not carry out your analogy, and say, 
that as Israel fell thro' such simple subtlety, so 
thro' the brazen form of their personified folly, 
was Israel saved? 

Bellingham : Or one step on, that as the Son of Man 
was lifted up, like the serpent in the wilderness; 
so of his disciple here, these wish to crush her, as 
the serpent now. If dreams may have interpreta- 
tions, so may interpretations have dreams, and fit- 
ful ones at that! 

Winthrop: We have wandered too far; let be. We 
must now proceed. And before calling the elders 
to testify further, perhaps it will be well to permit 



SIR HARRY VANE 205 

the accused to produce some witnesses of her own. 
Whom shall we call? 

Anne Hutchinson: Mr. Coddington is one. 

Winthrop : Very well ; Mr. Coddington will answer. 
But I believe he was not present at the conference? 

Coddington: Yes, but I was. Only I desired to be 
silent till I should be called. 

Winthrop : Will you, Mr. Coddington, say that she 
did not say what has been declared? 

Coddington : Yes, I dare say that she did not say 
all that which they lay against her. 

Peters (interrupting) : How dare you look into the 
face of the Court to say such a word? 

Coddington : Mr. Peters takes upon himself to for- 
bid me. — I shall be silent. 

Winthrop : You have perhaps said sufficient. — And 
yet, Mr. Peters permitting, you may say as to how 
she came to speak of the difference between Mr. 
Cotton and the other elders. 

Coddington: Well, at that time, Mr. Peters with 
much vehemency and entreaty urged the accused to 
specify the difference between his own teachings 



2o6 SIR HARRY VANE 

and those of Mr, Cotton ; and in reply, she did state 
the difference to be in the fact that, just as the 
Apostles themselves before the Ascension had not 
received the seal of the Spirit, so Mr. Peters and 
his brethren, not having the same assurance of 
God's favor as Mr. Cotton, could not preach a 
covenant of grace as clearly as he. 

Weld: How could she know that we had not the 
same assurance of God's favor as Mr. Cotton? 

Anne Hutchinson: How could the sacred writer 
know that Barnabas was full of the Holy Ghost 
and of power; or how could Peter say of Simon 
Magus that his heart was not right with God? 

Winthrop : Does the accused claim that she has the 
same inspiration as the sacred writer, the same 
Heavenly wisdom as Peter? 

Anne Hutchinson: I think that the Holy Ghost is 
the same now as then, and that the differences of 
His manifestations are not less. 

Peters: Indeed, you see how she makes us out as 
Simon Magus? 

Vane: No, for he had money to perish with him. 



SIR HARRY VANE 207 

Winthrop : Well, let Mr. Cotton now tell us what is 
his recollection of that conference. 

(Much interest is shozvn to await Cotton's an- 
swer. All becomes very still, as Cotton rises and 
takes a position at the left of Anne Hutchinson. 
She seems reassured, and those of the prosecu- 
tion more anxious.) 

Cotton: I trust we may be calm. No need is here 
For bitterness, or wrangling. 'Tis the light, 
And truth we seek. Let that be all our care. 
Accusers or accused, we should make out 
No case of flimsy texture, but of weft 
Whose every thread holds strong in simple fact. 
Of that December conference, what words 
Were spoken, and to what intent, I bring 
Remembrance much in common with all these. 
Of covenants and seals, distinctions hard 
To trace, there was much spoken ; and some gain 
Accrued, I felt, in helping all to see 
That, after all, divergent views were most 
In terms of thrust and parry, — that our play 
Turns not from profit, save when wrath intrudes, 
As may chance be in rapier-tilts afield. 
For I remember how that at the close 
Of that December conference, I felt 
Our wordy contest, most in gentle form, 



2o8 SIR HARRY VANE 

Was not so illy taken as it now 
Turns out; recall too that our brethren said 
They would not henceforth be so prone to take 
Hearsay reports and evil, as they had ; 
Agreeing that thenceforth they would not speak 
In mention of it. Afterwards, some did 
Profess to be, as I remember now, 
Not satisfied, — less so than theretofore. 

Winthrop : This would seem strange, and to my 
mind would serve 
As showing more her strange persuasive way. 

Weld : Indeed ! We did feel somewhat of strange 
power ; 
Knew not how evil till the spell was off. 

Vane : One Presence hurled men backwards., and 
they fell, 
Rebuked of dark designings on His name; 
It might be this. 

Bellinghavi : They bear too brazen fronts ! 

Winthrop : Well, none of this. — Does Cotton mean 
to say 
That the accused said not these brethren stood 
In covenant of works, nor preached the same? 



SIR HARRY VANE 209 

Cotton: I must declare, I did not hear her say 
These brethren stood in covenant of works, 
Or preach the same. 

Peters: How, Cotton? how is this? 

Cotton : I give but my remembrance. 

Peters: She said not 

We preach such covenant, or walk therein? 

Cotton: Not in such words, no; nor, as I recall, 
Unto like meaning. 

Peters: You are much at fault, 

Else quite forget what pricked our memories deep. 

Dudley: He trips at words. — They say she did af- 
firm 
They were not ''able ministers," — her word, — 
"Of the New Testament." Said she but that? 

Cotton: No, sir, as I remember, not. 

(Breathless silence was seen to await Cotton's 
answer. Hearing it, there is apparent conster- 
nation on the part of the prosecution, zuhile the 
friends of the accused take heart accordingly. • 
Cotton resumes his seat. After a brief pause — ) 

Winthrop : Perhaps 'tis best we hear from the ac- 
cused. 



210 SIR HARRY VANE 

What can you say defensive to your course 
As having Hved and taught among us, so 
As to have stirred dissensions up and strife? 

Anne Hutchinson: If I am called in question, v^hy 
my words 
Have gendered strife, I needs must first declare 
The manner of God's dealing, who revealed 
Himself, and taught my shadowed eyes to see. 

Winthrop : We wish not that, — the matter in hand 
is all. 

Vane (aside, to Accused): Best little; for their 
claims have failed. 

Anne Hutchinson: Like Paul before Agrippa, I can 
give 
No fair defense of word or deed, without 
The one-explaining secret of my faith, — 
That secret in th' awakening of my soul. 

(Upon reference to Paul's defence, some, espe- 
cially Peters, Wilson, Dudley and Weld, make 
a sneering demonstration.) 

Winthrop : Then, very well. Be brief. 

Anne Hutchinson: When I was yet in England, 
there began 
That trouble in my spirit, to see what way 



SIR HARRY VANE 211 

Their churches took ; so that I was near led 
To Separatist views. But thereupon 
I set apart a day of solemn fast, 

(Some turn to Wilson, with jesting looks.) 

That I might learn of God. He much confirmed 

My fears; and brought to mind that mystic word, 

How who confesseth not that Christ is come 

In flesh, is not of God — is antichrist 

Who was to come, and is now in the world. 

Regarding this, I knew no papist held. 

Nor any did, that Christ was not in flesh. 

Who then was antichrist? To me was none 

To open Scripture — Christ must be my prophet. 

Then came His word, "For where a testament 

Is sealed, there of necessity the death 

Of the testator is ;" and in this word 

He taught me how that they who do not preach 

Such covenant, deny the death of Christ, 

In spirit are antichrist. Such were those men 

Of English church. I liked it not; indeed 

My heart rose up against it, and I sought 

How such an atheism might depart. 

Some whole twelvemonth I groped to find the light ; 

Then found how I denied Him, and so walked 

In covennant of works. But then He came. 

Blest vision to my spirit, and I saw 



212 SIR HARRY VANE 

Where lay the truth, and learned to know what 

voice 
I heard — the voice of Moses, that of John, 
And this of Christ. The voice of my Beloved 
I could distinguish from the stranger's voice. 
Henceforth, I was more choice of whom I heard; 
And after Mr. Cotton was put down. 
As too my brother Wheelwright, there was none 
In England I durst hear. Then came His word, 
"Though bread of such adversity I give you, 
And waters of affliction, yet shall not 
Thy teachers be removed ; but thou shalt see 
Thy teachers face to face." Then I discerned 
How I too must come hither, though that here 
I still should suffer trouble, and be bound. 
Yet came a voice, "Fear not, for I will make 
Full end of those to whom I carry thee." 
I looked, and lo! a throne of justice; God 
Sat thereupon, and all the world to Him 
Was gathering 'neath His rod. I could not rest, 
I must not fear, and hither I must come : 
For still His voice spake on, and with strong hand. 
How I should not walk in this people's way. 
But still declare His counsel and His rod. 

(She is seen to move the people deeply; from 
whom there is an occasional demonstration, with 
ejaculations from Jane Hazvkins, Mary Dyer, 



SIR HARRY VANE 213 

and others. The Court is restless, the Clergy 
especially so. At this pause, they interject — ) 

Peters: Behold, she makes us prisoners, is our 
judge ! 

Dudley: Must we endure her scorn, invective, 
wrath ? 

Jane Hazvkins {from audience) : God, speak Thou 
from thy throne ! Let go thy rod ! 

Wilson : Bring her to time ! we ought not suffer this ! 

Winthrop {waving for silence): — Quiet, quiet! — {to 
Anne Hutchinson) You do condemn yourself; 
From your own mouth we yet shall judge you. — 
Peace ! 

Anne Hntchinson {turning upon clergy) : I give 
you one more place, which too the Lord, 
Of His immediate revelations, brought me; 
And one that most concerns you — hear it now. 
The sixth of Daniel. You know how it tells 
That when the President and Princes there 
Could nothing find to lay to Daniel's charge. 
Since he was faithful, they must needs accuse 
As touching his devotion to his God. 
For this they cast him to the lions' teeth. 



214 SIR HARRY VANE 

So he revealed to me that ye should plot 

Against me ; but He bade me not to fear. 

Since that He then did Daniel, and His three, 

Deliver. Nor is His hand more shortened now. 

Behold, this day this Scripture is fulfilled. 

And in our eyes ! Therefore, take heed ! Behold, 

Your power is to my body, but my soul 

He will deliver — ye can do no harm. 

I am at His appointment, and the bounds 

Of my just habitations are in Heaven. 

Ye are but creatures of His hand, — take heed; 

For this ye go about to do to me, 

God most will ruin you, and this whole state. 

(Amid uproar, she resumes her seat, exhausted 
and trembling. A demonstration in her favor, on 
the part of the people, seems likely; hut the Court 
and Clergy are quick to seize their chance, and 
proceed to question.) 

Peters : How know you that such wisdom came from 
God, 
And not of Satan? 

^Anne Hutchinson'. How did Abraham know 

That God, who said "thou shalt not kill," called 

him 
To offer Isaac? 



SIR HARRY VANE 215 

Dudley : By an immediate voice. 

Anne Hutchinson: And so to me, by His immediate 
word. 

Dudley: How? An immediate voice? 

Anne Hutchinson : Immediate voice, 
Of His own Spirit to my soul. 

Dudley (in utter consternation): Great God! 

Bellingham (aside) : I thought he would swear for 
them ; so it is ! 

Vane: Do we forget, "His Spirit shall bear witness 
With ours ?" that "He sends forth within our hearts 
The Spirit of His Son?" She means no more. 

Weld: Paul spake not with such meanings as she 
gives. 

Winthrop : But Daniel, whom you hail as prototype. 
Was there delivered by Almighty hand : 
Think you by miracle you shall be free? 

Anne Hutchinson : If free, 'twill be a miracle. — I do 
Here speak it to the Court, — I look that God 
By His true promise shall deliver me. 

Dudley : It is enough ! We have such heresy 
As well condemns her. 



2i6 SIR HARRY VANE 

Wilson : True ! we need not ask 

What in December conference was said : — 
We hear it from her lips. 'Tis blasphemous ! 

Peters: She holds herself with Daniel and with 
Paul ! 

Vane : She has the God of Daniel and of Paul ; 
Why may she not? 

Peters: But, miracles are past. 

Dudley : Let her but call on God to move this 
Court ; 
We move a different way. 

Coddington {to Dudley) : Your blasphemy 
Is most apparent. 

Winthrop {to Coddington) : Hush! — We surely 
hold 
Her views are false, fanatical, and bold 
In God's dishonor, — thus to speak of Him 
As lending visions, and as free to act 
On her entreaty, by miraculous power, 
Against His people here. She has defamed us. 

Peters: Let Cotton speak — her reverend teacher 
here, — 
Say freely whether he doth condescend 
To hold such visions, revelations, true. 



SIR HARRY VANE 217 

Cotton (zvith hesitation) : I rather would not fpeak; 
for we are led 
To view thro' passion what needs quiet care. 
We ought discriminate what fancies may 
Lead on to danger, what convictions may 
Come on the wings of spirit to our faith. 
I am not sure that I well understood 
Our sister's view in this : — if to expect 
Some favored care of Providence, then I 
Cannot deny it. 

Dudley: No, 'tis not of that! 

Cotton: If though by way of miracle, I think 
I would suspect it; for we hold that these 
Are past. The revelations of His Word 
Are unto all; and, true, His Spirit speaks 
In witness unto ours. We can assent 
To these, nor think delusions. And, I think, 
Such are her thoughts : I understand it so. 

Dudley : Oh, sir, you weary me, not satisfy ! 
These are not things in view ; her views are far 
And shamelessly beyond them. 

Coddington: In your wish. 

Winthrop : The case is altered now, — to our sup- 
port 



2i8 SIR HARRY VANE 

The Lord has risen; and, in a marvellous way, 
Hath answered our desires. She has disclosed 
Her revelations — ground of all our ills ! 
What tumults and what troubles they have 

wrought ! 
Would they were now cut off that trouble us ! 
The root of all our mischief is in view 
In revelations! And these, what are they? 
A mere word comes to mind, it suits her whim, 
She makes an application — nothing worth, — 
And lo, a revelation ! Ecstacy 
It is — enthusiasm — frenzied faith ! 

Wilson : More like a devilish delusion ! 

Winthrop : True ; 

It is of Satan. For I never read 

In all the false, the base, and devilish claims 

Of Anabaptists or Enthusiasts, 

The like of this. 

Dudley: Nor I. — Yet Cotton stands 
To justify her! 

Peters: And I think the same; 
It is enthusiasm, and it shames 
Our Cotton so to speak. 

Wilson : It harries all. 



SIR HARRY VANE 219 

Dudley: Those tumults that have rent the Germans, 
afl 
Were grounded in such talk. In venting them, 
They so stirred up their hearers they took arms 
Against their Prince; and one another's throats 
They cut; and all such devilish fruits. Most like 
The Devil may inspire into these hearts 
To do the same. I know not; but I know 
This is of his delusion in her mind ; 
For God's good Spirit brings like truth to all. 

Vane : I know His Spirit's voice, and she knows well 
The voice of her Beloved ; and we but claim 
The things that all just spirits testify. 
The Devil's voice is near, in serpent, toad, 
Or what you will, — detestable and vile, 
To still betray a woman's right of faith. 
For she had dared believe that here to speak 
The candid visions of an honest mind 
That sought and seeks to know no will but His, 
Would help her cause. It hurts, as I had feared ; — 
Not for a word she spoke, for they were true ; 
But for these lions' teeth, that God stays not 
As yet, from thirst of blood. He may not stay. 
The priceless Lamb was slain, and many since 
His true disciples. For what wicked age 
Since that whose shadowed shames made Golgotha 



220 SIR HARRY VANE 

To swathe in darkness, has not lent the cross, 
The sword, the rack, to speed His servants on? 
And ever by that same so specious plea — 
" 'Tis for our nation, and His church, 'tis thus," 
You talk well of delusions. Oh, how true ! 
How thick they spread around you, and how dark 
It grows — a moral darkness, quite as deep 
As that which typefies it. Do your worst. 
She has no hope, — "the most of power" prevails ; 
And she hath now a devil — one that sits 
Within your vision, not within her life. 
We cannot hope to purge your vision, so 
Must bear to lose the object of its hate. 

(It is observed to grow darker, as from clouds 

gathering. ) 

Dudley : A devil ! She has seven, none cast out. 

Winthrop : We all believe it ! We all believe it, save 
few. 

Weld: It helps not in her cause, and hurts his own. 
That Vane should here so speak of godly men. 

Vane: I seek no blame, but ask no credit, sir. 
For words of mine ; and I have naught to lose. 

Dudley : Come, let us hear the question ! 

WintJirop : It is time ; 



SIR HARRY VANE 221 

Too much has now been spoken to no gain. 
The question turns upon her meetings held, 
From which our troubles and our tumults rise. 
We have well seen they are the fruitful source 
Of all— 

Coddington {interrupting) : One word on this. Has 

it been shown 
These meetings, where the views in blame were 

taught, 
Were public ones? Suppose them private, sir. 
Designed for her own family and friends : 
Are private talks such matters of your blame? 

Winthrop: If you have nothing more to point than 
this, 
'Tis pity you should speak. 

Coddington : But what is proved 
Of any harm? Is mere comparison 
Of these to those of Christ's apostolate 
Before Ascension, crime? I think it praise. 

Winthrop : Her own speech here in Court, gives 
ample ground 
For censure. 

Coddington : But, is any law of God, 

Or any law of man, found broken? No! 



222 SIR HARRY VANE 

Dudley (to Coddington) : Sit down! Come, let us 
to the question. — Sir, 
We shall be sick with fast and weariness ! 

Winthrop : We will proceed. The Court is satisfied 
Concerning this we hear. Her course is one 
Provoking trouble, bringing dangers oft, 
And is not to be suffered. If, therefore. 
It be your mind that Mistress Hutchinson 
Is all unfit for further place among us; 
And if it be your wish that she shall hence 
Be banished, out of these our liberties, — 
Imprisoned meanwhile till such time is come, — 
Declare by rising now. 

(All the Court, excepting only Vane, Codding- 

ton, Bellingham, Cotton, and one other, rise; 

then seated.) 
— Those wishing nay. 

(Others rise, excepting Cotton.) 
— (to Anne Hntchinson) : You hear the sentence 

of this Court. It is 
That you be banished hence, as one unmeet 
For our society. 

Anne Hutchinson : Sir, I would know 
Wherefore ? 

Winthrop : No more ! The Court knows why. 



SIR HARRY VANE 223 

Anne Hutchinson: Then, Sir, 

I have said all, too much for my own good; 
I say but this for yours, — Father, forgive 
These of this Court who know not what they do. 

Winthrop: No more, enough! To Mr. Joseph Weld 
We now commit you for imprisonment. 

{It has been growing darker, and a fearful 
thunderstorm breaks, causing all to leave in dis- 
order; not without cries, some that God's wrath 
is against the Court, others that it is against the 
accused. ) 



ACT FIFTH. 

Scene I. Mystic Fort. 

(On the Mystic river, in Connecticut. Just he- 
fore daivit. Sentinels are stationed near. As 
the Scene opens, the troops of the Colonies are 
faintly heard to he advancing. Soon enter 
Officers Stoughton and Haynes. Two Sentinels 
come forzvard.) 

Stoughton : Sentinels, salute !] Advance ! 

First Sentinel {saluting) : Softly ! We are nowi 
within hearing of their camps. 

Haynes: Any stir yet among them? 

First Sentinel : None now ; I think they sleep, after 
a night of revelry. 

Stoughton: Indeed? God grant. 

First Sentinel: You could not have arrived more 

opportunely. Ever since your troops sailed by, 

they have taken it as evidence of our flight, and 

have been wild with rejoicings. This night they" 

224 




JOHN coxroN. 



SIR HARRY VANE 225 

have spent in dances and celebrations, while we 
have stood within hearing of their songs. 

Second Sentinel: Hardly more than an hour have 
been in quiet, and must be fast asleep. 

Haynes : Good ; with caution we shall surprise them, 
and have an easy victory. — (to Stoughton) We 
must make ready our men immediately for the 
advance. Come. 

First Sentinel: See that they move in utmost quiet. 

(Exeunt Stoughton and Haynes.) 

— All depends on their care, and the sureness of 
our attack. There must be hundreds of them 
here, and reinforcements near; while we have 
mustered scarcely ninety men. 
(Enter Captain Underhill; his company of some 
twenty men standing removed.) 

— Who comes here? 

Underhill: Captain Underhill. Salute! What 
word? 

Second Sentinel: Met you not Stoughton and 
Haynes? They just went there. 

Underhill: No, I have missed them in this wildwood. 
What is their plan? 



226 SIR HARRY VANE 

First Sentinel: Immediate attack. They are making 
ready. 

Underhill: I and my men are made — if their savage 
alarms do not unmake us. 

Second Sentinel: We shall find them fast asleep, 
after a dreadful night of debaucheries. 

Underhill: Heaven make it their sleep of death! If 
their bows are unstrung, my nerves may be less 
so. This is wearing, even for the patience of the 
saints. Ever since we left Hartford, where that 
godly Stone drilled us in a night of prayer, we 
have been drilled in nerve-wearing wastes and 
watches. We traveled as far as the Narragan- 
sett chief's for counsel, — whose only counsel 
was the warning not to attempt the attack; and 
here we are, but the more wearied for our jour- 
ney. 

First Sentinel: We could never find a better time 
than now. They are unsuspecting, and weakened 
with a night of feasting. With care, we shall 
easily effect their massacre. — Our troops come 
now. 

Underhill: And time; for dawn is creeping on. — 
Are we so near? 



SIR HARRY VANE 227 

(With the coming of dazim, the Indian Fort is 
faintly visible, a short distance on, situated on the 
summit of a hill. The wigwams of the Indians 
are clustered around the Fort. 

Second Sentinel: Near indeed. We must have cau- 
tion. 

{Re-enter Stoughton and Haynes; with them 
John Mason, the staff commander, and Endicott. 

Haynes: Underbill is here, his troops in readiness. 

Underhill : You see that glimmer of dawn ? 

Mason: All ready? 

Underhill: Aye, — even my pipe is lit. 

Mason: There must be not a moment's delay, a 
united and fearless attack, and no retreat until 
ourselves or the Indians are slain. If they 
arouse and resist, fight hand to band. You have 
your torches — light and use them at the earliest 
moment. We must burn their cabins and Fort 
before they know their danger. Let no man fear; 
trust in our God : 'tis for your homes, your loved 
ones, and your all. Now follow quickly! 
{The Officers leading, they rush onward, and up 
the hill. At about half the distance, a zvatchdog 
is heard to bay the alarm. The Indians, aroused 



228 SIR HARRY VANE 

at this, rally and resist, with dreadful cries of 
alarm. Undismayed, the troops of the Colonies 
rush upon them, with loud outcries, slaying with 
Herce attack. Almost immediately firebrands are 
seen cast among their wigwams. Hardly have 
the troops withdrawal to encompass the imprison- 
ed foe, before the encampment is in Uames. The 
Indians seem paralysed and helpless, as their 
enemies raise a yell of victory. Curtain. 



ACT FIFTH. 

Scene II. The Same. 

{Another part of the Held. Morinng. In the far 
distance, the smoking ruins are seen. Occasion- 
ally a soldier is seen, hurriedly passing, at a 
shorter distance. Enter Captain Underhill and a 
Soldier. Meeting them, two other Soldiers.) 

First Soldier: Captain, the war is done. 

Underhill: Doubtless, when the warriors are. 

Second Soldier : Wonderful ! Six hundred Indians, 
men, women, and children, have perished! 

Third Soldier : Our God be praised ! 



SIR HARRY VANE 229 

Underhill : And the Indians' God be pitied ! They 
are surely not gods of the hills, at least in the red 
of the dawn. 

Second Soldier : Is it true we have lost but two men ? 

Underhill: Only two. And our soldiers have just 
carried them hence. It is the sad touch of this 
glorious day. 

First Soldier: Well, I never saw a sadder sight 
than the feeble band of those Pequots from the 
second Fort, who arrived only in time to see the 
smoking ruins of their fallen comrades'. They 
stamped the ground, tore their hair, and cried in 
fearful anguish; but they saw how all in vain a 
resistance was. 

Underhill: Especially when Stoughton and Haynes 
pursued. A glorious end ! And we shall now be 
going home, hailed as conquerors, feasted for 
bravery, — and ready for the more exciting, and 
perhaps not safer, conflicts in Boston, — if their 
dissensions be not healed. 

Second Soldier: You are quick to look for a dis- 
charge. 



230 SIR HARRY VANE 

Underhill: We had as well rush to that — there are 
no more forts to storm, 

(Enter Haynes.) 

— What now, Haynes? 

Haynes: All over. Further pursuit is needless. 
Our good Mason will proceed with his men to- 
day to Saybrook Fort; with him Stoughton and 
Endicott, with their men, will go along ; we, with 
our men, are to return home, to protect our settle- 
ments there from any possible attack. Gather 
your men at once. 

Underhill: Indeed, mark me, so I thought. — We 
shall be ready. — Gather our men to the boats. 
Let us away. These sights are grand ; but there 
are better, so I think. 

Second Soldier: Where, Underhill? 

Underhill: Hist, there! It is not for the Court to 
know. 

(Exeunt.) 



SIR HARRY VANE 231 

ACT FIFTH. 

Scene III. Boston. 

(At the Spring. A quiet, shaded recess, with a 
street to one side. A little back, a rear view of 
the Meeting House. To the far side of the 
street, at some distance, the house of John Win- 
throp. Enter tzco of Vane's former Halberdiers, 
meeting.) 

First Halberdier: Hold now; have you recanted 

yet? 

Second Halberdier: Recant? 

I couldn't, can't, nor ever will recant ; 
But this I will do — slip their helHsh clogs, 
And find some spot, where their religious feet 
Shall not stamp out my vitals. They will see 
Their bristly pates singed with infernal flames 
Or ere I pay them fine of forty pounds 
For daring think out loud. 

First Halberdier : Stood they but here, 

They would not think it a refreshing shade. 
But more a brimstone corner, worth their fear. 

Second Halberdier: But, William, did you ever hear 
the like? 



232 SIR HARRY VANE '] 

— Take from one's family their means of bread. 
And then imprison him for saying so, 
As in contempt! Great God, I do contemn 
The priestly lot, and ask for nothing more 
Than that they would provide me to depart. 

First Halberdier : Indeed, I told them plainly, as you 
know, 
That in no other place, in all the world, 
Would name to just petition be held crime. 
And called seditious. Now Wheelwright is gone. 
Must they purge even our memories of his name ? 

Second Halberdier: Oh joy, if I were with him! 
And I will 
Depart with some. 

First Halberdier : Our chances are not rare ; 
An exodus is on. Wheelwright alone 
Turns North; many to Providence incline. 
Where now, they say, Williams hews out a state 
Bids fair to be worth while ; the Hutchinsons, 
With Dyers, and some others of their turn, 
Go to Aquidneck Isle, — if e'er the church 
Let go their wrath, as late the Court spent theirs: 
And most of Newtown, as I hear, intend 
To follow Hooker to Connecticut, 
Soon as our troops root out the Pequots there. 



SIR HARRY VANE ■ 233 

Second Halberdier: That they have done,— you heard 
to-day's report? 

First Halberdier: What? No. 

Second Halberdier: Just came, how that our troops 
have dealt 
The Pequot foe an awful massacre, 
Almost exterminating them. They say 
Six hundred warriors, women, children fell 
In slaughter, found asleep at break of day. 

first Halberdier: What lost we? 

Second Halberdier: Only two. 

First Halberdier : Impossible ! 

Second Halberdier: So seems; if true, the end is 
near; indeed 
Most of our troops already are en route, 
Within a day or two should come. 

Jnrst Halberdier: Hist, then! 

For what will Winthrop, and their ilk, I say, 
Not make of this ? They have been much at pain, 
To see so many leaving, ere they could 
Arrange to banish them. But if so ends 
The Pequot strife, they'll see the hand of God 
Confirming all their wickedness for good. 
Giving due seal thereto. 



234 ^^R HARRY VANE 

Second Halberdier : I doubt it not ; 

Whatever suits, He lauds; what suits not, there 
He warns. 

First Halberdier: If not, He would be in contempt. 

Second Halberdier: Most like, and fined. 

First Halberdier : No, they can find Him not. 
For He is banished hence. — Mt. Dagon's priest! 
Let's go — for look! 

Second Halberdier : Arch-ferreters, take heed ! 

(Exeunt, as enter, from opposite side, Wilson 
and Weld.) 

Wilson : Look, where they scamper ! Gnawing rats, 
that seek 
The way of their escape. 

Weld: We had them trapped; 
'Twere best they had been soused. 

Wilson: They'll get it yet. 

If they infest our larders, from which most 

Our roguish rodents now are purged. Our traps 

Are working well these days. The fat and sleek 

Old dam is ridded, mother of them all, — 

Her young scotched ere they get the knack to gnaw. 

I never want more pleasure than was mine 



SIR HARRY VANE 235 

To-day, anathematizing her. The church 

Seemed filled with glory of the Lord of Hosts. 

Their silence, when the questions were propound, 

Was like, I think, the last Great Judgment Day. 

And as I there delivered her to Satan, 

No more to lie, seduce, blaspheme our name. 

To be a heathen and a publican. 

Of us and of Christ's kingdom thro' the world. 

It seemed that all the awe such dread words bear 

Was fraught with alleluias of the Lamb, 

To see our Jezebel cast forth. She went 

As bowed beneath it, yet in pride ; for pride 

Fell forth with Lucifer, and robes him yet : 

She seems akin. They say that at the door. 

As she, with Mary Dyer, passed, she said 

In pride, "Cut off from church, but not from 

Christ ;" 
And one well answered her, "This Mary bore 
A monster — God would warn thee, best beware !" 

Weld : The hand of God has wrought us many signs : 
Let her consider. From imprisonment 
She will depart to exile on to-morrow; 
And there, at Isle Aquidneck, she may be. 
For aught we care, like John at Patmos Isle, 
Given up to revelations to the full. 



236 SIR HARRY VANE 

Wilson: Other confinement will confine her first. 
Meanwhile our Synod, which we now have called, 
Must try enmesh these rodents, one and all; 
Rid us of error, purify His church ; 
While too the Court seeks still to purge us there 
Of such as yet oppose. If it come to Vane — 
But, hark ! 

(Volleys of great shot are heard from the ship- 
ping.) 
— Is't possible out troops now come? 

Weld: This would declare it. 

Wilson: They have made good time; 
Almost as good by boat as he by land. 

Weld : He feared they might, since he had lost much 
time ; 
We best return and see. 

Wilson : We will. — 'Tis true. 

(Other shots are heard. Exeunt Wilson and 
Weld. Soon, enter Vane and Lord Ley. 

Vane (observing Wilson and Weld going) : We just 
escape collusion. Other shots 

Best win them. They must give their heroes wel- 
come ! 

Good victory it was ; but, the one hero 



SIR HARRY VANE 237 

That made such massacre not to be theirs, 
And all these exultations for their foemen, 
They'll pass unnamed. 

Ley: If what you tell of Williams 

Be known to them, as 'tis ; it is most strange 
If they shall not relent. 

Vane : To stranger, strange ; 
To me, familiar feeding. Sit awhile ; 
These go to other worries, we will rest. 

(Some seen passing along street, to boats.) 
How tired the man is when the spirit tires ! 
And I am tired. For, hear me. You, Lord Ley,. 
That are but here for some few summer noons. 
Sight-seer and romancer for the Court, 
Where you in after days will oft repeat 
The stories of your hearing, to what friends 
May wait on such recital, — you will tell 
Much that is strange. But you can likely tell 
No story stranger than my brief romance 
Of youthful dreaming, — how I thought to find 
An English people, dear by English traits 
Of homely virtues and of loyal hearts. 
But somehow purged of follies I had there 
Thought must remain, thought here they could not 

be! 
Ley, tell them this, — if any think the dawn 



238 SIR HARRY VANE 

Of some milleniiim breaks on foreign shores : — 
Just say the world is httle, and one sun 
Lights all, one darkness circles all, one blood 
Makes all its peoples — blood of common taint. 
For man is clay, and gold from clay is rare, 
Touched by whatever alchemy you will. 
Tell them "the man whose eyes are open" finds 
Mule-driving Balaams may turn out for seers, 
But most still cudgel on, nor see the glory. 
At least say, that ourself is all — the place 
Is little worth. For, mainly, we our shells 
Of crude environment bring from the ooze, 
Though basking in the sun. — Laugh, if you will: 
But when you tell my story, swear 'tis true. 
Ley: I dare believe, Sir Harry; but, I laugh 
To think I shall not need to tell them this ; 
For I shall yet take with me you to tell it, — 
With morals I could not so well impart. 

Vane: You have been tempting me, where I could 

yield 
With little urging, — but we'll speak of that 
Again. I know that what you say is true ; 
The times grow big with promise there. What 

hopes. 
What disappointments wait, none know. God 

grant 



SIR HARRY VANE 239 

The one on other's heels press not so close 
As here I found. Still, do not think, Lord Ley, 
That I have lost, or can, my grounded faith 
That right and truth will have due victories. 
They will, and ours to help thereto. But then, 
'Tis dearer spurs than one man's youth can win 
To be some story for his children's hearing. 

(Music heard. Shouts of the people, advanc- 
ing.) 
— They bring their victors home. Let us be going ; 
Or I must — you may wish to tarry? 

Ley : Yes, 

I think I will. You go, for you intend 
To see your banished friend ere she depart. 
You will be there to-night; to-morrow call, 
And there, at Noddle Island, we may talk. 

Vane : I will ; farewell. — Think not you may com- 
pare 
Our volunteers with English soldiers. 

Ley : No ! 

Vane: These are but soldiers of occasion. 

(Exit Vane. Ley advances to the Spring Gate, 

near the street. 

Soon, enter two Companies of Troops, one under 



240 SIR HARRY VANE 

Colonel Haynes, the other under Captain Under- 
hill. They are followed by a throng of people^ 
who cheer them lustily. 
As passing, curtain. 

ACT FIFTH. 
Scene IV. Providence. 

{Beneath a large American Elm. Near by, stands 
the rude log Meeting House. A few rude 
houses, showing the Providence settlement, are 
in view. A company of men are gathered, as in 
council. At their head, stands Roger Williams.) 

Williams'. One thing, and we have done. — Comes 
now before us a matter as touching our discip- 
line. No planting is so new, or under such favor 
of our Father of lights, but there will arise these 
unwelcome things. Let us not refuse them, but 
ever strive to be exact. Among those who have 
come to inhabit with us is our ever kind neighbor, 
Joshua Verrin. True, he is a follower of that 
form of belief for which we do not care ; for the 
Quakers have many errors, as it seems to us, that 
we should ever oppose. Still, we shall not lay- 
aught of restriction upon his conscience in this. 



; SIR HARRY VANE 241 

But, for one thing it has seemed to us that he 
ought to be censured. It is in this, that he has 
refused his wife the privilege of waiting upon 
our ministry as often as she has wished. In this 
he has broken both the commandment of God, 
and trespassed upon our civil compact, and so 
ought be censured — indeed compelled from his 
erring way, upon pain of disfranchisement. Shall 
we now proceed to this? 

"Arnold : Sir, I think it not meet. For we do not un- 
derstand that here is any breach of covenant. 
When this man consented to this order, of our 
civil compact, he did not think that it should 
extend to any breach of an ordinance of God, 
such as the subjection of wives to their husbands. 

Williams: You are not to understand that the ordi- 
nance of God requires of any wife a subjection 
to her husband so far as to restrict her own lib- 
erty of soul. And this is here done. 

Arnold: I do not understand it so; neither do I 
think our civil compact gives warrant for any 
such compulsion. 

Great: Indeed, we have such warrant in all civil 
communities. We must. 



242 SIR HARRY VANE 

Arnold : I ask that we may hear the Covenant. Let 
that answer. 

Williams : We will hear the reading. 

Secretary (reads) : "We whose names are hereinun- 
der written ; being desirous to inhabit in the town 
of Providence, do promise to submit ourselves, 
in active or passive obedience, to all such orders 
or agreements as shall be made for the public 
good of the body, in an orderly way, by the major 
consent of the present inhabitants, masters of 
families, incorporated together into a township, 
and such others whom they shall admit into the 
same, only in civil things." 

Green: Behold, is not here a strict promise to our 
obedience? 

Arnold: Yes, but "only in civil things." And this 
is not civil, that we should interfere with a hus- 
band's authority in his house. 

Green: What can be more within our authority than 
this? May we not interfere if the husband shall 
wish to beat his wife with the rod? Yes. Is it 
less our duty to interfere when he shall enforce 
her conscience? 



SIR HARRY VANE 243 

Arnold : But he has permitted her to attend, only not 
every time she could wish. And we know that 
some women forget that Scriptural admonition, 
to be "keepers at home," and so need an authority 
there. 

Green : There is no evidence that this wife has erred 
there ; it is only that he is desirous of forcing her 
into his errors of thought. 

Arnold: Why, "his errors?" Has not a Quaker 
right of conscience here? Is this not a harbor 
for all, of any conscience? 

Williams : We do not seek to restrain his conscience, 
though the Quaker notions are to my mind clear- 
ly false. We think them evil, yet their permis- 
sion may in case be good. Christ Jesus was the 
deepest politician that ever was, and yet He com- 
mands to toleration, even of anti-Christians. We 
are willing to tolerate their false views, believing 
that Christ's lilies may flourish in His church, 
notwithstanding the abundance of weeds in the 
world permitted. Indeed, we think the civil 
magistrate owes two things even to false wor- 
shipers ; their permission, and their protection. In 
soul-matters there must be no weapons but soul- 
weapons. The civil magistrate must restrain 



244 ^JR HARRY VANE 

crime, but never control opinions ; should punish 
guilt, but never violate inward freedom. But, the 
case in hand is clearly other. For it is not this 
man's conscience that we arraign ; it is rather his 
abridgment of his wife's conscience ; and so we 
make for freedom, and not restraint. 

Arnold: But he does it out of conscience. 

Williams: Crimes may be done out of conscience, 
and we must protect the wife's, even if we must 
thereby enforce the husband's. 

Green : You see what folly it would be to permit this 
man to restrain his wife in this. Why, all the 
women in the country would cry out against us ! 

Arnold: Did you pretend to leave Massachusetts be- 
cause you would not offend God to please men, 
and would you now break a commandment of 
God to please the women? Clearly, he but fol- 
lows his conscience in this. 

Williams: Such infinite liberty of conscience we 
stand not for. It must not be such as shall with- 
stand or oppress another's. This is clearly with- 
in our right; moreover there appears but the one 
to object, and we shall proceed. 

Arnold: Hear Verrin first. 



SIR HARRY VANE 245 

Williams : If so he wishes, there is none to withhold. 

Verrin: Thee may proceed, — I will not resist thee 
in this thee is doing. 

Green: Then, why resist your wife? 

Verrin: Thee is too pertinent. — {to Williams) But 
if thee call in question this, I will tell thee, that I 
but follow the inward light; and so far from my 
conscience being condemned, as thee is prone to 
think, I will tell thee that I have ever the sweet 
incomes and refreshings of the Spirit in this, and 
know that my conscience doth affirm. 

Green: Well, does your wife have the "sweet in- 
comes and refreshings" of it too? 

Verrin: I will not answer that. — Thee may proceed. 

Williams : We see how true it is, that so good a grant 
as this liberty of soul may sometimes be abused. 
Indeed, it often will; and yet, by the very fact 
of these errors making themselves so ridiculous, 
they will the sooner run their course. What 
persecution tries to kill, it but makes the more 
alive. We will suffer his errors, as we will the 
ridiculous "thee" and "thou" of their speech ; but 
we will not, I trust, permit to restrain another's 
liberty. As many as will censure, will declare 



246 SIR HARRY VANE 

by uplifted hand. 

(All but Verrin, Arnold, and one other.) 
(Tivo — Verrin not voting.) 

— You have our censure. The penalty for a further 
disobedience of our wish, will be disfranchise- 
ment. 

Verrin: I am content. She may go to hear thee, — 
but if thee give her no more Gospel than thee 
has dealt out to me, she will not thrive much for 
her coming. 

{Exeunt Verrin and Arnold, abruptly. In the 
stir of merriment resulting from Verrin's words 
and manner, the meeting is informally broken; 
and all, save Williams and Green, exeunt.) 
Soon enter, from opposite side, Mary Dyer. 

Green: Well, Mistress Dyer! 

Williams : 'Tis so, indeed ! Whence now ? 

Mary Dyer: From bondage into freedom, as we 
trust. 

Williams: If hither, yes. 

Mary Dyer: Not hither, Williams, no; 
We journey to Aquidneck Isle, and ask 
But over-night to linger. 



SIR HARRY VANE 247 

Williams : Surely, that ; 

But still to stay would suit well to our wish. 

Mary Dyer: Kind; but, here comes one who would 
say it nay. 

(Enter Anne Hutchinson.) 

Williams : Behold, new pilgrims of the faith ! How 
good 
Your coming is ! What means it, may we ask? 

Anne Hutchinson : It means what you best know, — 
that for our faith 
We have found no continuing city — so 
Seek one to come. 

Williams : Here may continuance be ! 

Anne Hutchinson: We choose to build, not on foun- 
dation now 
Of any other laid, but ours, in Christ. 

Williams: Oh, say not that! — H only laid in Christ, 
It is enough. 

Anne Hutchinson: We doubt not here is such; 
But Mr. Hutchinson now plants our homes 
On yonder shores, and we must join him there. 
Some friends are with him, and we hope to dwell 
In mutual peace, — after our fiery trial. 



248 SIR HARRY VANE 

Williams: You have had such, I know. God grant 
you find 
As sweet a hope as here is ours. 

Anne Hutchinson: His will 

Must tell for that. Enough for me, some rest 

From persecution and men's hatreds be. 

I am condemned, cut off, and cursed-forth hence, 

From out their jurisdiction of priest-craft; 

I wish for nothing more than that to me 

An open Bible, and His open gate 

Of Heaven's favors to my waiting soul. 

Be henceforth left unclouded of their dread. 

Williams: How much they err! How their intoler- 
ance 
Betrays them ! I did ever from my soul 
Honor and love them, though unjustly they 
In judgment did afBict me. More the shame, 
That on your life their wrath should too have fal- 
len. 
It is their thought to prosper ; and God grant 
They may, though finding sometimes juster paths! 
Yet, I have found how from their seed of wrath 
God may bring forth some praise. And, may He 

grant 
Like health of countenance to you ! 



SIR HARRY VANE "249 

Anne Hutchinson : Time helps, 

If you say this! 
Williams: It does. 

Anne Hutchinson : I have more hope 

For gains to ns, than that their cause should get 
Them gains from His right hand. 

Williams : Oh, if the weak 

Ones all, should lose,— where would His triumphs 
be? 

Anne Hutchinson: True, sir, —time mellows all; 
with sweeter grace 
The spirits of the brave, for their defeats. 
'Tis seen in you — may come to me His time. 
But, more of this anon,— if you shall grant 
Our little caravan of household gods — 
All idol-heresies, beware! — to stay 
Till morning here. 

Williams: We grant you so much time, 
Ere further banishment, be sure. — The men 
Will see to that, — you, Green, will help, — while 
we — 

(Exit Green; as enter a Messenger.) 
What now? 



250 SIR HARRY VANE 

Messenger: Your pardon; but word comes, just now. 
That you would hear. The last of Pequot foes 
Are vanquished, and our last of troops are now 
Returning from the field. 

Williams: Indeed? When this? 

Messenger: In swamp-fight, near New Haven, they 

Vt^ere met, 
And once again the Indians suffered rout; 
And so complete that all our English troops. 
Who had remained, have now turned to their 

homes. 

Williams: Who brought the word? 

Messenger : An Indian scout was sent 
Up from Canonicus, whose men had met 
The Massachusetts troops on their return. 

Williams: It could not have been other. — I rejoice 
The end is come. — Thanks, that you brought me 
word. 

(Exit Messenger.) 

'Anne Hutchinson: Reminds me, I have message here 
from Vane, 
That he has sent you in my care. — Tis here. 

(Presents him a letter.) 



SIR HARRY VANE 251 

Williams : Oh, I am glad — I thought to ask of him. 
Last hearing, he had failed of that return 
He well deserved, but held no less a brave 
Course onward. 

Anne Hutchinson: Ah, and stood in my defense 
So nobly, though we knew against all hope. 
He stays, the one brave spirit left, to strive 
Against their fury. 

Williams: And how long, or will 
He too come hither? 

Anne Hutchinson: No, no thought of that! 
His only wish is there, and if that fail. 
To England. Neither yea or nay to that 
He gave me ; yet I think it will be so. 

Williams: Well, come — let us within — the letter 
then. 

(Exeunt. As going, others of the Hutchinson 
party join them.) 



252 SIR HARRY VANE 

ACT FIFTH. 

Scene V. Boston. At the Harbor. 

(Some boats in view. To one side, some cannon 
are provided; and certain men, hearing small 
arms, are gathered. To the front, two Citizens, 
in conversation; as enter, from left, Aspinwall, 
with a basket.) 

First Citizen: Good William,whence are you? 

Second Citizen: So blest in basket and in store. 

Aspinwall: From gathering blueberries in the field. 

First Citizen : So seems. While we have been gath- 
ering providences. 

Aspinwall: How is the crop? 

Second Citizen: Abundant, and of size. We will 
exchange. 

Aspinwall: Agreed. Give equal measure, though. 

First Citizen: These are more to taste. Yet we have 
such as are good morsel, too. 

Aspinzvall: Deliver, then. What first? 

First Citizen: There is no first or last. We pluck 
them, as you these berries, but stopping when we 



SIR HARRY VANE 253 

have our fill. But, to unload, try this. Word 
comes, how two men raking for oysters yester- 
day, were drowned; and it would seem an evil 
judgment from God, for they were wicked men. 

Aspinwall: True enough, since none other could have 
drowned. 

First Citizen: At Newtown late, one Saturday, a 
poor man labored after sunset an hour or two; 
next day his little child of five was drowned. He 
doth acknowledge that the stroke is from the 
righteous hand of God, for his profaning His 
holy day, against the checks of his own con- 
science. 

Aspinwall: 'Twould seem that God pays well for 
overtime. By your report. He that said, "Let 
not the sun go down upon your wrath," forgot to 
stay His own from rising soon after. 

Second Citizen : We heard of where a young mother 
was suspected of having killed her illegitimate 
child; a test was brought, and lo, when she 
touched the dead body, the blood came fresh, and 
it bled abundantly ! 

Aspimvall: Cadaverous proof, fit for her hanging! 



254 SIR HARRY VANE 

First Citizen: A report tells of how there was a great 
freshet of late, and some Indians being powwow- 
ing in the tempest, the Devil came and fetched 
away five of them. 

Aspinwall: Good work! He should have been a 
soldier along with Underbill. But, think of the 
Devil in a freshet — what a hiss of steam ! I war- 
rant the others were well scared! 

First Citizen: It was a judgment on them, for hav- 
ing despised the white man's Book. Just as re- 
ports tells of some sailors who spoke ill of this 
good land, and the Lord's people here ; and some 
were taken by Turks, and they and their wives 
and their little ones sold as slaves. Some died 
of the plague, some had daughters to go mad 
or to be debauched, and those who thought to 
escape were lost by their ships going down at 
sea. And so, in all this, the hand of the Lord 
was seen. 

Aspinwall: He surely chose well, when He placed 
His justice in the hands of Turks. 

Second Citizen: But listen, what is reported only 
to-day. It is of Anne Hutchinson, whom we 
banished for wicked opinions. You know she 
was great with child; and we hear that being re- 



SIR HARRY VANE 255 

moved to the Isle of Aquidneck, in the Narra- 
gansett Bay, her time being fulfilled, she was 
delivered of a monstrous birth ; which is declared 
to be of such form as to signify her error in deny- 
ing inherent righteousness, but that all is of 
Christ in us, and nothing of ours in our faith, 
love, works, etc. For such at least our godly 
Wilson has declared it. 

Aspinzuall : Well, truly, our godly Wilson is a skilled 
midwife, and would know just what the theologi- 
cal significance of all that would be. 

First Citisen: Well, this seems more likely than that 
other report that tells how she and some of her 
adherents happened to be at prayer, : when the 
late earthquake was at Aquidneck; and the house 
being shaken thereby, they were persuaded (and 
boasted of it) that the Holy Ghost did shake it 
in coming down upon them, as upon the Apostles. 
Perhaps this later affliction was in punishment 
for that. 

Aspinwall : You are something of a help to Wilson 
as interpreters. Joseph and Daniel are bested. 
But I could tell how more than one earthquake 
followed her words. — Goodness ! But here is 
now a providence befallen us! 



256 SIR HARRY VANE 

(A salute is fired from the cannon. They rise, 
look about, at the guns; then observe the coming 
of a Company from the street.) 
— I surely thought a Synod had turned loose 
upon our heresies ! But perhaps it is only 
another Hooker secession, to worry our care- 
worn Winthrop. (Taking up his basket) I think 
you have devoured rather more of my blueberries 
than I of your providences. — But, look, 'tis Vane ! 
Things looked for may surprise. 
(The tzvo Citizens retire a little; as enter, from 
the street. Sir Harry Vane and Lord Ley, ac- 
companied by a following of friends; among 
them, Bellingham, Cotton, Coddingfon, former 
Halberdiers, etc. 
(As they come to a stand, another salute is iired.} 

Bellingham : The boats lie there. 

Coddington: And these salutes are paid 
Most worthily. 

Cotton: And Winthrop bade me say, 

That though he could not come, he has arranged 
That such salutes be fired. And others too 
When passing Castle Island will be given. 
We that are friends, and love you as our own. 
With more than formal pomp, design that now 



SIR HARRY VANE 257 

Ere you depart, our pledge of faith and prayer 
Shall be bestowed. Lold Lry will understand 
That we include due honor unto him. 
His coming gave delight, his stay has led 
To wish it might be lengthened, and he goes 
With showers of all well-wishes for his good. 
But, my Lord Ley, we hold this much against you — 
That you should take our noble Vane in arm. 
Encouraging a wish he long had cherished, 
For English scenes. 

Ley: I bear no cleaner fault. 

Cottofh : 'Tis not in blame, but much in envious wish ; 
For we had thought him ours, as still in spirit 
We ever shall regard him. 

Vane : Ah, most kind ! 

Cotton: For you have taught us much of high re- 
gard 
Which cannot vanish from our minds, our hearts; 
And though no more we see you face to face. 
Your noble bearing, gentle from your birth. 
Yet trained to higher gentleness of soul, 
Will be a step cannot evanish — no, 
Not ever from our view. 



258 SIR HARRY VANE 

Vane: Most kind, most kind! 

Cotton : Your walk has not been easy, but a path — 
A via dolorosa — of such souls 
As keep most closely to the matchless Way 
He walked before us. This we may regard 
As hapless — likely, more it is for praise. 
I ask that for these friends no happier lot 
May fall, — than follow you, as you have Christ. 
We stay to struggle on. You will find there 
Like struggles, — and, we pray, best honors more. 
(Vane is seen to be much moved, and so all.) 

Bcllingham: 'Twas time to pause. For Cotton's 
voice throbs so 
In minor strains, as well could move to tears; 
For surely he has mastered that full page 
Of passion, those Ephesian elders give. 
Where Paul was parted from them. Ours is like, 
And both reflect the matchless love of Him 
Who having loved His own, loved to the end. 
Love helpless still may thrive, as it anciently 
Thro' Hebrew Sion's shadowed streets infused 
An Arimathean light. Our streets seem dark 
To me, with much misgivings for our loss ; 
I crave but something of like coming dawn. 

Vane : Again, most kind ! Yon waters are at ebb ; 



SIR HARRY VANE 259 

The deeps within my spirit surely full. 

I wake as from a dream, some fevered sleep, 

To which this hour a strange antithesis 

Of wakened life presents. Yet, of the past 

I will not speak, save this, — how of my hope, 

Like David's hope, "God made it not to grow ;" 

At least in this my day — some coming day, 

Pray that it will ! I well believe it ; for. 

Whatever in this world for truth and help 

Avails, not on the life of one depends. 

But triumphs over death and day's defeat. 

What task soever fails — fails? — that way moves 

Henceforth not God. His way is dark, though light 

Attends Him surely — yet we see Him not. 

The utmost stretch of man's poor vision fails 

To catch His garments glistering on the night. 

We walk by faith, not sight ; and by that faith 

His path we may discern. No pillared cloud 

Of glory to our day, nor fire by night. 

Now guides. A print of where the bleeding Feet 

Once walked, we see ; a vision of the Hand 

Once pierced, to beckon on — alone declare Him. 

I leave you to that path ; no easy one, 

But one ye have well kept, and will. Farewell ; 

Attend me in your prayers, and mine shall be 

Ever to help you, and for this good land. 

— We cannot tarry, for the sun is low ; 



26o SIR HARRY VANE 

Our ship is at Long Island — all, farewell! 

{With hearty adieus, they separate, and are seen 
to hurry to the boats. Those bearing small arms 
attend. As they embark, other salutes. 
The curtains permit the scenes quickly to change. 
There is a brief viczv, at passing Castle Island, 
where another salute is heard. Then soon, the 
vieiu is that of a ship in the distance, moving 
slowly azmy.) 

Bellingham : The sun is low indeed. 

Cotton: Yet, setting suns 

Have fires transfigure, not consume. Behold, 
What glories, see, now gather upon the deep ! 
So tinged with sadness, true ; so near the dark ; 
Yet holding promise of the dawn. 

Coddington : So far ! 

Bellingham : We have but slept ! all slept, as he hath 
said. 
I dreamt I saw a sainthood and a throne; 
Instead, it was the Indian, foot on skull; 
Our warring factions, swords wet to the hilts. 
Of those who came to bring the realms of peace ! 
Full slowly the unhasting years of Gocf 
Move forth before the restless eyes of men ! 
We hope, we strive, we think we see the light 



SIR HARRY VANE 261 

Aglow— a mist comes down, the wind snuffs out 
The Httle candle-flame we set to burn, — 
Our eyes then meet the sadness and the dark. 
Patience, great God! We cry for this at least, 
Crying are still. 

Let this true passion drive the angrier forth, 
And give us calm. The patience of far faith 
That may look out across a sad, still sea, 

(Watching the ship afar, nozi} seen in the gather- 
ing tzuilight.) 
From shores where we are thus enwrapped in 

storm. 
And view some promise of returning peace. 
Is it for naught? 

(Turning thought fully away.) 
Cotton : No, for God lives, and will. 

(Twilight deepens. They turn sadly home, as 
curtain.) 



262 SIR HARRY VANE 

U ENVOI. 



Soul of the Prophet, Thou 
(Child of the manger) 

Knowest our longings, how 
Straitened with danger! 



Rest to the wind mocker, 
Hopes that we cherish ! 

Carest not. Wave-walker 
Thou, that we perish? 



Zeal in Thy people tires, 
Troublers annoy them ; — 

Dare we call Heaven's fires 
Down, to destroy them? 



SIR HARRY VANE 263 

II. 

Little we know of Thy 

Manner of spirit! 
Angrily oit we try 

Peace to inherit. 

Thine the lips knew love's worth — 

Sheep before shearers: 
Silence that made the earth 

Speakers or hearers. 

Harsh was yon citied hill, 

Crimsoned with sorrow ; 
Cross that few pitied, till 

Look ! rose the morrow, 

Bringing love's triumph, where 

Wrath did for ruth rend 
Veil, that the temple's prayer 

Forth might His truth send. 

The End. 



fF^ 18 



y 



